1143 
C63c 


4 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT   LOS  ANGELES 


llrpfTrY  fiaisicllf^  I 


EXLIBRISlii 


CRITICAL     REVIEW 


OF  THE 


ORTHOGRAPHY 

OP 

DR.  WEBSTER'S   SERIES  OF  BOOKS 

Foa 

SYSTEMATICK  INSTRUCTION 

JN  THE 

ENGLISH     LANGUAGE; 

INCLUDINQ 

HIS  FORMER   SPELLING-BOOK, 

AND   THE 

ELEMENTARY  SPELLING-BOOK,  C03IPILED  BY  AARON  ELY, 

AND  PUBUSHED  UNDER  THE  NAME  OF  NOAII  WEBSTER,  LL.  D. 


BY    LYMAN    COBB. 


11  dlrecUy  benefited  by  Ihe  inculcation  of  truth,  and  the  suppression  ©f  crrour ;'  therefore  exaroloA 


NEW  YORK : 

PUBLISHED  BY  COLLINS  &  HANNAY,  230  PEARL-STREET 
IR31 


ADVERTISEMENT 


TO  THE  PUBLTCK. 


The  hnportance  of  a  correct  and  uniform  system  of  orthogi-aphy  is  universally  admitted, 
and  therefore  requires  neither  argument  nor  elucidation.  Tiiis  subject  has  engajjed  the 
assiduous  attention  of  the  author  of  the  following  reviews,  for  the  last  twelve  years ;  during 
vvhiL'h  time,  he  luis  actually  examii5cd,  compared,  and  marked  the  errours  in  nearly  cveiy 
publication  upon  this  branch  of  our  language,  that  has  ever  appeared  either  in  this  country  or 
Gr.^aL  Britain.  An  important  crisis  has  atlast  arrived,  in  relation  to  om-  elementary  schools 
and  seminaries  of  l-arnrng — a  period  wh,:-n  ll  b^coin.-is  necessary  for  parenis,  and  ihe  great 
body  of  die  Amf.n-i.-.an  communiiy,  to  decide  whether  they  will  continue  to  follow  the  s^-stems 
of  orthf »5£raphy  and  orthoepy  hillurto  in  use,  and  based  upon  the  analogies  of  the  language, 
th--r<^by  promoting  umformity  in  the  publications  of  cur  own  and  foreign  countries;  or  will 
adopt  u  new  and  contradictory  system  of  innovations,  neither  warranted  by  usage  nor 
analogy,  ar;l  calculated  to  "  abiibk  the  supcrsfriu/ure,  and  bring  it  back  to  the  confusion 
in  orlhfgraphy ,  from  irhic/i  Jnhnscn  extricated  it.'' 

It  is  the  peculiar  character  of  the  American  peo]:ile,  (a  character  formed  from  reading 
and  habits  of  investigation.)  to  examine  before  ihcy  decide;  and,  in  spreading  before 
lli^  rt-publick  of  h-tters  in  the  United  States,  these  criticisms  on  the  publications  of  Mr. 
Webster,  the  ati'.hrtr  only  asks  for  that  liberal  indulgence  and  patient  examination  to  which, 
from  the  importance  of  tlic  subject,  he  believes  them  fully  entitled. 

ll  h:is  been  a  primary  object  with  Mr.  Webster  and  his  friends,  to  inculcate  the  belief,  that 
tlic  author,  in  publishing  his  former  reviews  of  Mr.  Webster's  works,  was  actuated  by  per- 
sonal feelings  toward.s  the  author  of  the  American  Djctionary.  The  illiberality  of  tins 
insinuiiLion  is  only  equalled  by  its  wai\t  of  candour  ;  and,  the  avithor  feels  no  reluctance  in 
trusting  die  qa-stion  of  his  motives,  his  rights,  and  the  correctness  and  propriety  cf  his 
strictures,  with  a  nation  of  impartial  and  intelligent  readers. 

To  those  who  are  already  wedded  to  the  systems  of  orthography  and  orthoepy  published 
by  Mr.  Webstn-,  this  publication  will  be  important  as  an  index  to  the  disputable  points, 
and  the  innovations  and  contrarieties  of  the  America)i  Lexicograpiier ;  and,  to  such  as  deem 
the  uni£r>rmily  nnd  perpetuity  of  our  vernacular  language  to  be  paramount  to  the  private 
in'icrcsts  of  an  author,  a  will  be  useful  in  enabling  them  to  form  a  ciu'rect  estimate  of  tlie 
claims  of  those  publications  to  the  character  of  Standard  Works. 

Itn  giving  this  review  to  the  pubiick,  the  audiorhasbut  one  thing  to  regret;  and  tliut  is.  the 
necccsity  of  communicating  it,  m  many  instances,  through  the  medium  of  the  Post  Office, 
tli'»  only  means  of  disseminating  it  over  this  widely  extended  rei)ublick.  It  is  confidently 
believed,  liowever,  that  a  careful  perusal  will  amply  remunerate  any  individual  for  tlie  trifling 
expense  to  which  he  may  tlius  be  subjected. 

»•  Respectfully, 

THE  AUTHOR. 

•/  It  mny  be  necessar^-to  state,  that  whenever  a  quotation  Is  given  In  this  re\1c\v,  from  the  wrillngs  of  Mr.  Wcl^ 
Iter,  his  publisliers,  or  liis  friends,  UiC  orisinal  orthosraphy  has  been  obser\'ecL  . 


1145 
INTRODUCTION.        C<^3c 


^  \  The  faculty  of  speech  may  be  justly  considered  the  leading  characteristick 
!r  that  distinguishes  man  from  iuferiour  animals,  places  him  at  the  head  of 
animated  nature,  and  stamps  hiia  with  the  seal  of  immortality.  The  science 
of  language,  therefore,  must  ever  hold  a  distinguished  place  in  the  catalogue 
of  useful  knowledge ;  and,  to  the  labours  of  those  who  have  devoted  their 
time  and  talents  to  the  cultivation  of  our  vernacular  tongue,  the  friends  of 
science,  and  the  community  at  large,  are  deeply  indebted. 

There  are  ie\Y  classes  of  literary  men  from  whose  labours  society  has  derived 
more  important  benefits  than  from  the  class  of  eminent  pliil(;!ogists  and  lexi- 
cographers, who,  during  the  last  century,  have  contribuled  so  la:-gely  to  the 
cultivation  o(  the  English  Language ;  thereby  laying  the  foundation  of  those 
highly  polislicd  effusions  of  sentiment  for  which  the  writings  of  the  present 
age  are  distinguished.  The  names  of  Bailey,  Ash,  Johnson,  Sheridan, 
Waliier,  Jones,  Jameson,  and  Webster,  will  ever  possess  a  distinguished  niche 
in  the  gallery  of  literary  men  ;  and,  their  contributions  to  the  stock  of  useful 
improvements  will  claim  for  them  the  appellation  of  fathers  of  Enolish  litera- 
ture. But  wliile  I  am  thus  ready  and  desirous  to  render  to  these  the  just 
tribute  of  gratitude  for  their  eminent  services  in  this  department  of  learning,  I 
am  by  no  means  disposed  to  concede  the  proposition,  that  their  productions  are 
to  be  exempt  from  the  usual  ordeal  to  which  llie  writings  of  every  other  author 
are  subjected,  and  which  is  the  principal  test  of  relative  merit.  I  mean  impar- 
tial and  candid  criticism. 

With  reference  to  works  designed  for  elementary  instruction,  it  is  particu- 
larly important  that  this  right  should  be  admitted  and  .sustained  ;  since  errours 
«2  widely  disseminated  by  tliese,  have  an  influence  more  pernicious  in  itself,  and 
O  more  difficult  to  be  counteracted,  than  when  found  in  books  adapted  to  mature 
^  minds.     It  has  been  supposed,  however,  that  this  right  of  examination  is  not 
«t  common  to  every  class  of  citizens — that  one  at  least  is  and  ought  to  be  exci«- 
j^ded  from  this  right,  though  perhaps  better  qualified  from  taste,  habit,  an d-^'xpe- 
Qrience,  than  most  others,  for  doing  justice  to  the  subject.     This  clas?  compre- 
hends authors,  compilers,  and  ieaclisrs*     "While  in  the  ordinary  a^airs  of  life, 
J.,  we  daily  resort  to  mechanical  or  professional  men  for  their  opinions  m  matters 
?^  relating  peculiarly  to  their  business  or  profession,  as  the  best  eviJcnce  for  form- 
N  ing  a  correct  judgement,  it  is  not  a  little  surprising,  it  should  for  a  moment  be 
fm  urged  that  in  jnatters  of  science  we  should  not  credit  the  evidence,  nay  the  unde- 
^  niable  facts,  produced  by  an  individual  who  "has  had  the  misfortune"  of  wri- 
ting and  publishing  upon  the  same  subject,  and,  therefore,  mctj/  reasonulAy  be 
•  supposed  to  know  something-  about  it. 
^      I  trust  I  shall  be  excused  for  premising  thus  much  in  answer  to  what  has 
"^  already  been  urged,  and  will  doubtless  be  reiterated,  by  .Mr.  Webster  and  his 
"^  friends — that  "I  am  the  author  of  a  Speliing-Book  and  Scliool  Dictionary,  a«d 
J  am,  therefore,  incapar itated  for  doing  justice  to  his  literary  productions.''     But 

'^     •  Tho  FubHsher  of  Webster's  Dlctionarv.  in  :i  communication  n.blreFscd  to  the  Editor  of  the  Eo&tjv<  Couri(^.  ami 

,  VI   jiubli.slv.l  in  lli.t  iiiner,  .-'-pL  28, 1829,  \mCkCi  ti.c  foUo.vin,'  lUn  lal  npiical  to  the  publi.k,  rd-iliyc^o  Uic  c>*ucifciiis 

*\    then  nronMy  publi-hefl.  -  ^,,1  f„ii  ,,,,-„ 

i       "  Dear  Sir.  -.-Omn  twontv  or  thlrtv  davs  .xince.  I  believe.  I  was  looking  over  :i  filo  of  j-»rf  I^PS^'m,  ,  rTtv      *- 

a  notice  01  sonif  criririsin-  on  Web-<t.T  s  Dictionary',  wl.i.li  Ii  ivc  nppe.ircd  in  tiie  Mm  'ill»*'^*r'';V,N  -/.     pVit  ,v>.,  ? 

1  am  intfrf;t.>.l;i«  Publisi...T  of  tbis  work,  riiiv  rc-."iew  wl.irh  /  mijibt  -ivc  ol  it.  ^v'-l^^'CO!.!  (>^P.;U«-     ''"' ^^ ','  ^ 

1  leave  oih-irs  to  rcviow  tiie  work,  it  is  t)nt  lu-tict  to  the  pn .'.ic,  as  v ''ll  .-is  ro  niysoX  to  -"j^t*;/'  ,,':'_,,' "J  ,'„i'r 

these  criticisms.    They  .ippenred  under  the  si*rnalnr.!  Inquirer.    The  author  ^^^  P«-j;i^,,'^,y' Vm^^ii.uI  n^u' 

recently  a  ,=choolm.a.';ter,  in  oho  of  our  wcsUra  TiUa«es,  who  has  had  the  luVfortuae  *3  con.pi.e  a  iij)«uu»gBooK. 

and  small  Dictionary." 


^  INTRODUCTION. 

without  attempting  to  exonerate  myself  from  this  imputation,  and  without 
further  remark  relative  thereto,  I  shall  assume  the  right,  and  leave  the  result 
of  my  examinations  to  the  intelligence  and  judgement  of  a  discrimmatnig 
community,  to  whose  unerring  decision,  wlieiher  of  condemnation  or  justifica- 
tion, I  shall  most  cheerfully  and  readily  submit. 

Before  entering  upon  the  examination  of  the  several  works  of  Mr.  Webster, 
it  may  not  be  impertinent  to  give  a  succinct  chronological  history  of  the  causes 
and  circumstances  which  have  contributed  to  place  the  adherents  of  Walker 
and  Webster  in  opposition  to  each  other  ;  and  wiiich  have  rendered  this  pub- 
lication not  only  justifiable,  but  indispensable  to  the  promotion  of  truth,  and 
the  protection  of  individual  character  and  enterprise. 

<-'  in  detailing  these,  I  shall  commence  at  that  period,  when  from  experience 
in  the  use  of  Mr.  Webster's  Spelling-Book  and  School  Dictionary  in  instructin^r, 
I  became  familiar  with  the  "  multitudinous  errours,"  contradictions,  and  incon- 
sistencies contained  in  them;  and  seeing  the  importance  and  necessity  of  a 
uniform  standard,  more  particularly  in  orthography,  I  resolved  both  to  give  the 
result  of  my  investigations  to  the  publick  in  the  v/ay  of  criticism,  and  to  em- 
ploy my  experience  thus  acquired,  in  the  compilation  of  a  work  for  elementary 
instruction.  The  former,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  the  then  existing  publications 
of  Mr.  W^ebster,  was  published  in  a  series  of  numbers  in  the  Albany  Argus  in 
1827-8,  and  is  now  re-published  in  this  general  review.  The  result  of  my 
labours  in  the  latter,  has  already  been  several  years  before  the  publick,  from 
whom  I  have  received  many  flattering  evidences  of  a  favourable  opinion. 

Whether  that  examination  of  the  former  works  of  Mr.  Webster,  was  either 
ill-timed  or  unimportant,  is  left  for  others  to  determine  ;  with  this  single  re- 
mark— that  it  is  confidently  believed  Mr.  Webster  himself  will  admit,  that  if 
those  criticisms  had  never  appeared,  the  recent  compilation  of  the  Elementary 
Spelling-Book  would  never  have  been  deemed  necessary.* 

In  my  examination,  I  had  demonstrated  the  orthography  of  Webster  to  br 
far  less  uniform  and  analogous,  than  that  of  Jolmson  ;  and  Walker's  system  o<* 
pronunciation,  which  was  introduced  into  this  country  as  early  as  1800,  had 
been  very  generally  received,  and  was  already  becoming  the  Standard,  in  this 
branch  of  Philology.  Hence  it  became  manifest  to  the  publishers  of  Webster, 
tl^at  some  device  must  be  resorted  to,  to  induce  apathy  in  the  publick  mind, 
and  thereby  procrastinate  the  inevitable  crisis  which  they  f(*resaw  was  ap- 
proaching ;  the  expulsion  of  his  elementary  v/orks  from  our  primary  schools. 

To  prevent  this,  tne  author  of  the  American  Spelling-Book  was  despatched 
to  England,  that  from  ^-personal  observation,"  he  might  be  able  to  ascertain, 
or  at  least  on  hk  return  to  assert]  that  '•  Walker  was  wholly  unknown,"  or  if 
known  at  all,  only  in  the  circles  of  the  vulgar  :  and,  it  was  about  the  same 

'  This  inference  will  not  l)e  thonsht  unreasonable,  nctwi-  ,  •  ■:,  '  r,  :  iho  allcfraUon  of  Mr.  Webster  In  his  pam- 
phlet, recently  published,  (pages)  that  \]\e  American  SiicWiw  :  .  in  '.if  suppressed." especially  when  taken  in 
conne.\ion  with  llie  fac;,  tliat  n.o.^t  of  tlie  pul)li.<l!ersol' hi>  l   :  :;.s  liavercserved  to  themselves  the  prlvi 

lege  of  publishing  either,  as  shall  be  fcniiul  most  advariaL'f  ci;   ii  i:    :.  miercf.ts. 

t  It  is  truly  amusin?  to  observe  the  arguments  ailvanced  by  Mr.  Wc  ii-tor  and  hi=;  friends.  foi)rovc  that  Walker's 
Diciionar>'  is  not  the  Standard  in  England.  At  one  time  we  are  told  ll.if  "  Malfcer  ts  not  knojrn  in  England  ;"  at- 
another  time,  that  .Mr.  Webster"  has  made  a  visit  to  Kngland  to  ascftain  tbereal  slate  (X  the  laneuape."  where  he>»' 
found  that  "  Walker's  pronunciation  was  not  used  in  any  decnt  sorlo  y  in  that  counto '•"  Airain  ;  we  are  told  by 
Mr.  Webster  that  "Walker's  Dictionary  is  full  ot  inc 'nsi.^tcncies  from  tif;:nuiiiif:  toend  :  and  the  attempt  to  mak** 
It  a  Standard,  ha.=!  done  more  to  corrupt  the  lanirua^c  than  any  event  which  has  l.nken  place  for  five  huiidrcd  years 
f^st.  No  tKX)k  is  taken  as  an  ultimate  Standard  in  England  ;  and  V/alkers  promuiciation  is  so  eiToneous.  that  no 
|»s:  than  ^/jr^c  rficrionartes  have  been  published  tu  correct  it;  all  of  them  approaching  much  nearer  to  actual  uta/je 

j..'^^' "■■  .for fi  moment  examine  the  inconsistency  M\<\.dccepticn  in  the  above  statement.  F.rst ;  if  Walker  be  "  not- 
iv^Zr  finA'lond,"  how  couid  his  pronunciation  hn\o  ^o"convpica  tfic  \:m£:iin<.'CV'  Secondly:  if  Walker'.*! 
",,;?"?.'■>'  .V'-  not  the  Standard  in  Ensrland,  whv  have  "three  dictir.-.aries  been  published  to  correct  it  7"    What  evil 

ThP  f-ifc  i  ^m''"^  existence  of  the  work,  if  it  wrre  not  known  or  t"<MIow._cl  ? 
miintrv-  al'i  ■  /' ^'i^cr  and  his  fi  lends  know  that  Walkr-rs  Dictionary  is  pop\ilar,and  in  gencnd  use  in  this 
shPivP^nV  th»  iJlir^";,''^'*yca"  divert  the  publick  mind  frrn-  this  work,  Webster's  Dictionary  must  remain  on  Die 
lampoon  a  ivpr^.'^V  Thus  they  (Webster  and  his  fnoin's)  crdfavour  lo  convince  the  American  fjeople  thai 
r^intrvi  Rii'f  iimi  f'"*"  ^Valkcr,  is more  correct,  because.  tVrs<Mth.  his  work  is  not  known,  or  in  u.se  in  this 
^n^^nirP  -^^ yir^uvr))  ^  '>'c/'onary,  which  was  "published  to  corrra  Walker's,"  (as  stated  by  Mr.  Webster,)  con- 
»  ehow  c4      ^=rsutemei  u       ''*  ""'^  inconsistencies  as  Walker's  ;  and  I  eliallensc  fllr.  Webster  or  his  frlecuU 


INTRODUCTION.  r 

lime  announced  m  the  journals  of  the  day,  that  Mr.  Webster  would  soon 
publish  a  Dictionary  that  would  contain  a  specifick  for  all  the  deficiencies, 
discrepances,  and  aiionialie.?,  not  only  in  the  former  works  of  Mr.  Webster, 
but  of  all  otiier  authors,  and  would  form  an  uacanjing  STANDARD  of  the 
orthography  and  orthoepy  of  the  English  language.  Nor  was  this  all  that 
was  fundly'anticipaicd  from  t'le  [)romiscd  labours  of  the  American  Philologist. 
A  new  series  of  Elementary  Works  for  the  use  of  schools  was  immediately  to 
emanate  from  this  immutable  Standard,  v/hich  should  be  divested  of  the  inac- 
curacies, contradiciions,  and  absurdities  of  Johnson,  Walker,  Jameson,  and 
others— publications  which  should  correspond  in  their  orthography  and  pro- 
nunciation with  the  Standard  and  with  one  another,  and  thereby  produce 
what  is  universally  admitted  to  be  a  desideratum — uniformity  in  this  depart- 
ment of  Philology. 

In  order  more  emphatically  to  forestall  publick  opinion  in  relation  to  this 
forthcoming  work,  tlis  friends  of  Mr.  Webster  re-published  in  this  city  under 
the  title  of  Red  Book,  (originally  an  English  publication,)  Bean  roft'.s  Practical 
Orthography  ;  in  which  the  unpublished  Quarto  Dictionary  of  ?*Ir.  Webster 
was  lauded  with  fulsome  and  extravagant  praise,  although  the  panegyrist 
admitted  "that  he  had  seen  only  the  introductory  part  of  the  work."* 

The  effect  of  these  measures  was  suclf  as  miglu  naturally  be  expected.  AH 
further  competition  and  investigation  were  for  a  time  arrested,  while  his  friends 
waited  with  sanguine  confidence  the  appearance  of  the  promised  Standard. 
The  literary  qualifications  of  its  author  became  generally  admitted — the  works 
of  the  great  English  lexicographers,  with  their  '•  i?alpablc  inconsistencies  and 
prepostennis  anomalies,"  vv^ere  spread  before  him  ;  a  long  and  liberal  patronage 
had  relieved  him  from  tliose  pecuniary  embarrassments,!  which  he  had  attrib- 
uted to  Johnson  as  a  prolifick  source  of  errour  ;  and  the  favourable  opinion 
every  where  entertained  of  his  judgement  and  experience  combined  to  secure 
a  general  acquiescence  in  the  belief,  that  all  these  importcmt  considerations 
would  be  realized  in  the  Quarto  Dictionary.  Added  to  these,  the  inllucnce  of 
an  extensive,  aristocratical,  and  persevering  class  of  booksellers,  whose  interests 
were  already  to  a  large  amounl  identifiv'^.d  with  the  success  of  Mr.  Webster,  and 
whose  sensibility  and  vigilance  were  graduated  by  the  amount  of  capital  they 
had  invested  in  his  works,  all  contributed  to  usher  the  quarto  before  the  com- 
munity under  the  most  favourable  auspices.  It  is  now  about  three  years  since 
it  was  published.  It  has  become  the  property  of  the  community  so  fiir  as  iIa 
claims  to  a  Standard  work  are  concerned  ;  and  though  the  most  unwearied 
pains  have  been  taken  by  Mr.  Webster  and  his  friends  to  pufi!"  it  in  newspapers 
and  periodicals,  though  by  lecturing  in  every  city  and  viliago,  and  by  per- 
sonally applying  to  Members  of  Congress  and  others,  he  has  been  able  to  pro- 
cure the  recommendations  of  many  men,  eminent  for  their  literature,  in  different 
parts  of  the  United  States,  yet  I  shall,  in  the  following  pages,  show,  beyond 

•  I  should  not  now  condcsreml  to  notice  this  ophemcral  prodiiciion  of  the  Wet>sfori m  .school,  aid  I  ntjt  feci  it  my 
duty  to  bestow  a  |ii->sinu'  remark  upon  tlie  uniOuuded  and  iilibcrat  fliari'os  coiit:>uicd  in  that  work,  that  the  ilic- 
tioriaries  of  Johnson  and  Walker  arc  in  ue  crroneotis  thaii  those  of  Webster— a  htatemcnt  e<;ualh-  uiijusi  and  un- 
tntc,  as  I  shall  alnuidavtly  prove  hereafter.  It  is  not  unwonhy  of  remark,  lliat  at  tfie  vcrv  tin.c  this  vair.e  Kid  Hooic 
was  thus  lending  its  aid  and  influence  to  bliickcn  the  fame  of  the  iilu'^iriiii";  dead,  and  to  pave  the  wav  for  the 
Innovations  of  ."Mr.  Wet)sicr.  the  American  editor  of  thiit  work  expressed  to  me  h/s  entire  want  of  r/mfi'denco  in 
the  nualific-itions  of  Mr.  Webster  .-is  a  IexiCJi;:r:.i)hcr.  ar.d  his  anxious  forcl>o<lin;:s  th.it  the  cy.\^or<e^\  inibliration 
would  disapoint  Id-;  frienfis.  I  was  at  tint  fiu:e  en£r,ii.'e(l  in  wriii'i.' the  review  <.f  iMr.  W.b.<ter's  old  .^nellin.'- 
BMOk,  before  alUid-d  to.  .-md  at  tl.e  requ"- 1  of  the  editoi  of  the  Ited  VajoX.  furni.she.l  him  with  :i  "  markrj  cory  of 
Mr.  Webster's  SipeUhw-Hook."  which,  by  some  means,  foiiml  its  way  t.>  Mr.  Webster's  libi-ar\-.  as  he  subseiiueuily 
admitted  ;  but  v/helher,  by  this  means,  Mr.  Webster  profited  from  w.y  Laljouri,  it  Is  not  now  imjK^naiit  to  i!;(iiiiri\ 

t  Mr.  Web.'Jter,  in  the  preface  prefixed  to  his  dictionary,  published  in  isos,  pafre  19,  wh^n  •^j.^nkinrof  Dr.  J.'hnson 
Btated.  that '  to  assi.'n  the  cauv-s  of  tiic.<c  defects,  is  by  no  means  difticulf.  We  are  rolil  in  the  acr.)unt.s  of  John- 
ran'f.  life,  that  he  was  almost  always  depresse<l  by  dispa.se  and  poverty :  tint  he  w.as  naturally  Indolent,  ajid  sfldom 
wrote  until  he  was  urjred  by  want,  or  the  nrce<sity  of  fuHJllin-  his  en'.'a::emont«  with  his  iKok.^.llrr  Ilenc«  it 
i>aii|iened,  that  he  often  received  the  m  mey  for  his  writing's  l.ef..re  his  ma:iu>crip's  were  prop.arevl.  'rhcn  when 
called  upon  for  copy,  he  was  oimpclle  I  to  pr-^pare  his  rn.um.-cnpts  in  histc  :  and  it  mav  he  rtaisoniiblv  suiii.oe«od. 
{hat,  in  some  instances,  they  were  sent  to  the  i-re«s  in  .in  uiifuiihofd  sUtu.  Th?se  facts,  while  ;hey  mayaccw»;iit  for 
By  no  maaos  excuse  the  multitude  of  errors  in  bin  dicUocao'" 


vl  mTRODUCTION. 

the  possibility  of  contradiction,  and,  I  ti-ust,  in  the  spirit  of  candid  and  liberal  criticisitl, 
tliat  it  is,  in  its  orthography^,  far  less  accurate  than  the  Dictionaries  of  Johnson  and  Walker, 
and  in  this  respect  less  entitled  to  the  character  of  a  Standard  work. 

Shortly  after  the  publication  of  the  quarto,  Mr.  V/ebster  made  an  effort  to  redeem  the 

pledge  given  by  his  friends  relative  to  the  scries  of  class-books  for  s)'stemaLick  instruction, 

,  and  for  that  purpose  employed  Mr.  Aaron  Ely  of  this  city  to  compile  the  Elevientary  Spel- 

Xiing-Book.'l;^  Uniformity  in  orthography,  it  must  not  be  forgotten,  was  the  important  quality 
which  this  series  of  books  was  to  possess  over  all  otliers  ;  arul  it  was,  therefore,  reasonable  to 
-'""expect  that  the  first  of  the  scries  would  coi-respond  v.-ith  the  quarto,  especially  in  ail  those 
words  whose  orthography  Mr.  Webster  claimed  to  have  improved  and  rendered  consistent 
with  analogy.  With  what  degree  of  fidelity  this  pledge  has  been  redeemed,  the  community 
will  be  enabled  to  judge  from  the  fact,  that  the  compiler  (I\Ir.  Ely)  has  thought  it  prudent  to 
omit  many  of  tliose  words,  tlie  orthography  of  which  Mr.  Webster  has  changed;  and  in 
other  cases,  he  has  followed  the  orthography  of  Johnson  inoppcsilion  to  that  of  Webster. 

It  is  not  a  little  surprising  that,  notwithstanding  the  repeated  asseverations  of  Mr,  We}> 
ster  and  his  friends,  both  before  the  publication  of  the  quarto,  and  while  the  ELcmenlary 
Spelling-Book  was  being  prepared  for  the  press,  that,  "  Walker's  Dictioxarv  was  un- 
known IN  England,"  Mr.  Ely  was  wont  to  claim  as  a  matter  of  merit  for  that  compilation, 
that  it  was  made  from  Walker's  Rhyming  Dictionary,  and  that  it  was  from  that  v/ork  ho 
derived  the  system  of  classification  by  tlie  terminations.  It  is  not  less  a  matter  of  surprise, 
that  the  publisher  of  the  Octavo,  while  he  endeavours  to  create  the  belief  that  this  illuslricus 
author  is  unknown,  or  is  disrespected  in  his  native  country,  has  the  matchless  effronteiy  to 
insert  at  length  in  that  edition.  "  Walkku's  Key  to  the  Classical  Pronunciation  qy 
GiiKF.K,  Latin,  and  Scriptuuk  Proper  Names." 

The  last  effort  of  the  great  American  Lexicographer  is  the  Duodecimo  Dictionaiy,  design- 
ed as  the  codicil  to  his  other  publications,  and  contains,  as  he  alleges,  "  the  pointing,  orthog- 
raphy, and  pronunciation  which  he  most  approves."  Novr,  should  it  turn  cut,  that  this  pub- 
lication is  at  variance  with  the  Standard,  (to  wit,  tlie  qv.arto,)  with  tlue  cciavo,  and  witli  tlie 
Elementary  Spelling-Book,  it  must  be  conceded,  that  either  the  works  of  his  meridian 
tliought,  or  those  of  his  dotage,  are  not  entitled  to  confidence.  This  inconsistency  I  unheiiita- 
tingly  declare  to  be  the  fact,  and  pledge  myself  to  prove  it  in  the  following  examinaticn.. 

I  regret,  in  closing  this  Introduction,  the  necessity  of  animadverting  upon  the  maltveient 
and  unwarrantable  aspersions  in  wliich  Mr.  Webster  has  thought  proper  to  indulge,  in  a 
pamphlet  recently  published  by  \\vx\,  containing  the  recommendations  to  his  Series  cf  Books, 
accusing  others  of  plagiarism,  and  stigmatizing  them  with  the  appellation  of  "  pkddlinu 
coMPiLER.s,"  v/hen  it  is  notorious  that  for  the  last  three  years,  he  has  been  making  tours 
through  the  country,  and  by  appeals  to  the  sympathies  cf  individuals,  has  succeeded  in  pro- 
curing for  his  works  an  introduction  to  which  their  comparative  merits  would  never  have 
entitled  them.  The  propriety  of  such  a  course  for  proselyting,  and  for  procuring  the  nanu  s 
of  individuals,  as  recommendatory,  v/hose  opportimity  and  business  totally  disqualify 
tlv-m  for  giving  an  opinion  founded  upon  l:no\\'lcdge,  may  reasonably  be  qucstioned,ta  course 
which  it  IS  humbly  conceived  would  never  be  resorted  to,  v.herc  personal  feelings  liad  not 
usurped  the  reins  of  reason  and  candour, 

Nao  York,  OcUbcr  10,  1831.  LYMAN  COBB. 

*  The  follo'.vincr  extract  is  tal:en  from  the  con:munica?!on  published  in  the  Ncv/ York  Cpmmercial  Ailvertiscr, 
t)oc  15  is;9,  bv  Mr.  Joseph  McKcen.  \vho  was  Secretary  of  the  meclingof  the  le:.dier.s  ai  lliis  City,  when  tlie  report 
in  favour  of  Mr.  Webster's  El'nientary  Spellinjr-Book  was  vjected  by  alarsre  ruajonty. 

Tii^tt  Mr  Ely  was  en^a'/eil  to  porfnm  tliis  service  for  Dr.  Webster  at  tiie  compensation  of  icco  (lobar.=<,  I  con'.' 


Elv  was  a  sedate  avi.l  reliiriou.^  man,  and  cou'ul  l,ave  hiui  no  am^aient  <j0.icct  w  i|ii.->ie  mc.h  it.uioi 

t  The  followinir  cditoii,.]  aviicle.  wliicli  apu- r.vrd  in  tlie  New  ^  o:!c  I^-emim  I  i-bt  ot  Apiil  12,  ISSl, co  ful.y  con-c- 
snonrls  with  mvview.';  n-.ion  tl.is  Mibjfcf,t'iat  1  Imve  laUcii  r1;c  lipeify  ol  uveriUij;  it  licie.  ,  .  ^ 

^W?Cdin  iheVa'llin-ton  Tele-raph.  a  oeriincaie  of  mere  than  or.e  huiuiro.!  n-.eml>er.5  of  Conpic.s  to  the 
ncrit".  of  Weh.^ter's  Dictii  narv,  recomn:ei!.ii!i,sr  ii  as  a  work  pvcpej  to  ho  con.^u.li  d  as  a  ."^i.-.M.uara  r  1  tlie  .an^'ii:.i;e. 

"  Win  out  nicinina  anv  disrespect  to  the  Kenilemcn  wliohave  .nibscnl:eil  this  cerlif.catc.  \Neniusi  s.y  that  we  oo 
not  tl.  ni-  it  will  do  the  Dictionary  any  pood.  We  Miffer  inenii)ei5  of  Cou.'riC.^s  to  make  our  laws,  in.t  n<  t  to  make 
orXua'Tt  is  their  proviiice  to  adjust  ilK-  'h'Wcs  on  salt  ard  molasses.  Imt  net  ll,e  accents  <  n  words:  V,-\\(: 
a[re''cv?ocoin^  but  n  ,f  to  vc-caV,!e.«.  ii.o  i:-M^hIaiinia::e  is  flu-iis, '0j.;uk1.c  us  they  ,  lea^ounljcir  speeches  in 
^;;^r;;S^  a,Sdre"sos  to  their  lViend.:nhu..^ 
not  for  tliein  t(i  dictate  to  their  c.nnsMiuents  in 


ported  tiy ., ,  .  ,     ,    ,,  • 

-a  lask  of  noslit;hi  kilioui;  rC'juLxiJi^'  a  great  deal  cf  lei.saic 


REVIEW 


WEBSTER'S    QUARTO    DICTIONARY. 


The  most  prominent  innovation  in  tlie  orthography  of  Mr,  Webster's  Dictionary,  is  the 
omission  of  k  in  the  numerous  class  of  words  which  end  in  ck  in  Johnson's  Dictionary. 
This  innovation  is  considered  by  Mr.  Webster  a  great  iinprovement  on  tha  score  of 
uniformity. 

Of  this  class  of  words,  tliere  are  in  our  language  (acknov/ledged  by  Mr.  W^ebster  in  his 
dictionaries)  about  Jive  hundred :  of  these,  Mr.  Webster  has  tenninate'd  about  three  hundred 
and.  twenty  with  c  only ;  and  about  one  hundred  and  eighty  with  the  c  and  k  both  !  quite  a 
"  uniformity'^  indeed!  Yet  he  iias  stated,  that  "Johnson's  orthography,  which  some  com- 
pilers follow,  has  been,  in  several  classes  of  words,  corrected  by  modern  writers;  as  by  the 
omission  of  u  in  error,  candor,  superior ;  andZ.'  in  public,  walsIc,  &c.  1  have  extended  tliis 
correction  to  alt,  the  words  of  these  classes,  with  a  view  to  l'XI70k:,tity  ;  and  have  correct-ed 
a  few  other  palpable  errors  in  the  cojnmon  orthography !"  The  candid  reader  can  judge 
whether  he  has  that  "  uniformity." 

I  will  now  offer  somj  remarks  as  to  the  propriety  or  impropriety  of  this  innovation,  in 
omitting  k  in  this  class  of  words.  If  wc  refer  to  tlic  languages  from  which  these  words  were 
derived,  we  shall  find  a  very  great  variety  of  teniiinations,  entirely  void  of  uniformity,  a* 
c,  ck,  eke,  cus,  que,  cen,  cken,  ccan,  cca,  ca,  cian,  cce,  &c.;  so  that  eveiy  person  will,  it  is 
pre.^amed,  perceive  the  necessity  of  uniformity  in  this  class  of  words  in  our  language,  and 
conclude  that  all  should  end  with  c  only,  or  all  witli  ck ;  as  the  pronunciation  of  the  syllable 
would  be  the  same  in  either  case.  I  will  also  attempt  to  point  out  th.c  difficulties  which'would 
result,  should  this  class  of  words  end  with  c  only,  as  blac,  loc,  attao,  frolic,  mimic,  pnysic, 
&c. ;  or  should  the  c  (being  a  redundant  letter  in  the  language,  or  merely  a  representative. 
and  ("onsequently  in  this  termination  ck)  be  omitted,  and  the  v,ords  end  with  k  only,  as  blak, 
lok,  j)ak,  attak,  &c.  First ;  it  has  been  observed  that  the  pronunciation  of  tlie  syllables  would 
be  tlie  same,  whether  the  words  should  end  with  ck  or  withe  only;  but  as  we  form  deriva- 
tives from  them  by  adding  in  if,  ed,  or  er,  the  c  would  be  pronounced  like  s  in  these  deriva- 
tives, agi-eeably  to  the  invariable  rule  in  the  language,  of  pronouncing  c  like  5  before  e,  i,  and 
y ;  (and  without  which  distinct  rule,  the  pronunciation  of  c  in  our  language  could  never  be 
learned,  as  it  is  used  indiscriminately  before  a,  o,  and  u,  and  c,  i,  andy;)  so  that  the  sound 
of  the  [u-imitive  syllable,  or  v/ord,  would  be  lost  in  the  derivative;  as  back,  bac,  bac-ing, 
bac-cd,  pronounced  bak,  bas-ing,  bas-cd;  attack,  attac,  altac-ing,  attac-ed,  pronounced  attas- 
ing,  attas-ed;  frolic,  fiolic-ing,  frolic-ed,  pronounced  frolising,  frolis-ed  ;  physic,  physic-ing, 
physic-ed,  pronounced  phy.sis-iug,  physis-cd,  &c.  «&:c. ;  for  if  the  k  be  not  in  the  primitive, 
we  may  not  insert  it  in  the  derivative,  any  more  than  we  mav  x  or  ::,  agreeably  to  any  rule 
of  spelling  derivatives.  Secondly;  if  c  (the  redundant  letter  in  this  termination)  should  be 
omitted  in  the  primitive  words,  we  must  double  the  k  in  formi)ig  the  derivatives  from  tlie 
words  of  this  class,  of  one  syllable,  or  those  accented  on  the  last  syllable,  agiTcably  to  the 
established  rule  of  the  language,  in  forming  derivative  words,  which  is,  that  a  consonant 
v/hich  ends  a  monosyllabic  or  a  word  accented  on  tl.e  last  syllable,  preceded  by  a  single 
voweh  should  be  doubled,  when  a  syllable  is  added  beginning  with  a  vowel :  as  rob,  roi)bin^, 
robbed,  debar,  debjM-ring,  debarred,  &c. ;  consequently  thus,  back,  bak,  balcking,  bakked  • 
black,  blakker,  blakken,  blakking,  blakked;  attack,  attak,  attakkins",  attakked,  &c.,  which 
would  appear  vciy  awkward,  as  kk  are  not  in  Enr^lish,  and  it  M-ould  also  be  more  difficult 
to  write  kk  than  ck.  Hence  it  appears  evident  tliattJie  •'  uniforniitv"  of  which  IVIr.  Webster 
speaks  so  his-hly,  should  consist  m  spelling  all  these  words  witli'c^  in  the  primitives,  and 
that  great  difficulty  and  pei-plexity  wouUrresult  from  any  other  "uniformity"  in  the  or- 
thography of  this  numerous  class  of  words.  The  k  should  end  all  these  words,  and  should 
be  retained  in  all  derivatives,  except  when  the  /.;  is  followed  liy  a,  o,  or  u,  (unless  the  c  be 
sounded  like.?  in  the  derivative:)  as  mimick,  mimicking,  mimicked,  phvsick,  physickino- 
physicked,  frolick,  frolicking,  frolickffl,  lucky,  &c. ;  but  not  in  physical,  publicai;on.  &c.,  as 
the  c  comes  before  a,  and  is  hard  like  /.-,  the  k  need  not  be  retained.  Mr.  Webster  n'lust 
have  lost  sight  of  this  rule,  and  the  above  reasons,  or  rise  he  is  vilful  respecting  them,  or  he 
would  not,  in  speaking  of  this  class  of  words,  have  .stated  in  his  introduction,  that  "  to  add 
K  after  c  in  such  words  (speaking  of  musick,  publick,  and  republican,  &c.)  is  beyond  measure 
absurd,  for  both  have  the  same  power,  having  been  formed  from  the  same  original  charac- 
ter, and  that  '  they  never  proceeded  so  fur  as  to  caiTy  the  absurdity  through  die  deriva- 
tives; never  writmg  publickation,  musickal,  rlietorickal."  Yet  Mr.  "Webster  has  carried 
tHe     absurdity"  so  for  as  to  spell  traff chalk  witi;  k,  in  which  it  should  have  been  omitUi 


8  WEBSTER'S  aUARTO  DICTIONARY. 

for  the  same  reason  that  k  is  oinitted  in  publicKation,  viz.  the  a  follows  ck,  and  consequently 
the  c  is  hard  as  in  the  primitive  without  k  2 

Let  us  farther  examine  Mr.  Webster's  ortliography  of  this  class  of  words  for  the  purpose 
of  ascertaining  whether  he  has  that  "  uniformity  '^  which  "  is  a  prime  excellence  in  the  rules 
oflanguage,"  or  whether  he  isoneoftliat  class  of  "  modei-n  "  writers  who  "  fortunately,  have 
rejected  k  from  words  in  which  it  is  useless."  And  first;  with  regard  to  uniformity  in  the 
orthography  of  these  words.  I  have  already  stated  that  he  has  retained  the  k  in  s.bout 
c-ie  hundred  and  eighty  of  the  five  hundred  words  of  this  class,  so  that  no  person  will 
"contend"  that  he  has  tliat  ^^  uniformity'' '.  Secondly;  with  regard  to  Mr.  Webster's 
rejection  of  A'  "  from  words  in  which  it  is  useless.''  As  Mr.  Webster  has  spoken  in  such 
strong  terms  of  the  "  prime  excellence  "  of  "  uniformity,  "  we  might  reasonably  suppose  that 
he  would  have  retained  k  in  all  these  words,  or  would  have  omitted  it  in  all,  from  which 
we  never  form  derivatives;  yet  he  has  not  in  the  retention  of  k  in  the  one  hundred  and 
eighty  words,  or  in  tlie  expulsion  of  it  in  the  three  hundred  and  twenty,  paid  any  regard  to 
these  principles :  for  instance  ;  he  has  retained  k  in  many  words  in  wliich  it  is  followed  by 
€  or  i  in  forming  derivatives,  as  lock,  stock,  attack,  traffick,  frolick,  ransack,  &c.;  and  he 
has  omitted  it  in  words  of  the  ::avie  class  !  as  physic,  and  garlic,  without  k,  from  which  phys- 
icking, physicked,  and  garlickeater,  are  formed.  He  has  spelled  garliceater  without  k, 
which  must,  agreeably  to  his  "  directions  for  tlie  pronunciation  of  words,"  be  pronounced 
.^arliseater,  as  he  says,  "  before  c,  c  is  precisely  equivalent  to  5."  Under  the  word  unphys- 
icked  he  has  spelled  physicked  widi  k,  though  he  has  not  k  in  physic  !  Mr,  Webster  has 
spelled  mimic,  when  a  noun,  without  A',  and  with  it  wlien  a  verb  ;  yet  he  has  made  no  such 
distinction  in  the  v/ords  frolick  and  traffick,  having  spelled  them  with  /:  in  both  cases  !  and 
he  has  spelled  these  three  words  in  this  contradictory  manner  in  the  definitions  of  the  same 
words  !  This  innovoMon  makes  another  "  anomaly  "  in  our  language,  that  of  spelling  the 
noun  and  verb  differently,  when  they  are  pronounced  alike.  Again,  he  has  retained  k  in 
many  words  from  which  "no  derivatives  are  formed ;  as  almanack,  bailiwick,  baiTack,  bascock, 
bullock,  buttock,  frock,  girrock,  haddock,  hattock,  hemlock,  hillock,  hollyhock,  jannock,  lin- 
stock, mattock,  paddock,  pollock,  peacock,  puddock,  shamrock,  &c.;  and  he  has  omitted  the 
k  in  v/ords  of  the  so/nie  class !  as  bishopric,  candoc,  carac,  cammoc,  cambric,  hammoc,  horn- 
moc,  hassoc,  limbec,  puttoc,  tussoc,  &c. 

Again ;  he  has  inserted  k  after  c  in  some  djsrivatives,  in  which  «  is  followed  by  a  conso- 
nant", as  frollckly,  froUcksome,  frolicksomeness,  trackless,  &c.;  and  has  omitted  it  in  otliers 
of  the  same  class  !  vas  franticness,  mimicry,  publicly,  publicness,  &c. ! 

And  again ;  lie  has  also  inserted' k  after  c  in  some  compound  words,  as  almanack-maker, 
baiTack-master,  &c.  and  has  omitted  tlie  k  in  other  words  of  tlie  same  class !  as  panic-grass, 
public-spirited,  &c. ! 

j,^  Thus  Mi:  Webster,  instead  of  a  '^  uniformity  ^'  in  the  orthography  of  these  words,  has 
"Spelled  them  in  such  a  manner  as  to  produce  every  species  of  contradiction  and  inconsistency 
imaginable,  and  very  great  defect  and  perplexity  in  the  formation  of  many  derivatives;  yet 
Johnson  and  AValker,  whom  Mr.  Webster  has  so  strongly  censured  for  their  retaining  the 
A",  have  by  the  retention  of  the  k  in  all  this  class  of  words,  observed  a  system  of  orthography 
which  is  uniform  vi.ud  consistent,  and  avoids  the  (/e/fc^  and  perplexity  which  would  resvUt 
in  the  formation  of  derivatives,  should  the  k  be  omitted.  It  is  quite  surprising  that  Mr. 
Webster  should  have  condemned  Johnson  and  Walker's  retention  of  A:,  and  of  not  observing 
uniformity,  Avhen  they  are  uniform  and  consistent  in  these  words,  and  he  has  not  observed 
cither  ii.niformiiy  ov  consistency  \r\  any  one  particular  1!  In  this  retention  of  A",  Johnson 
and  Walker  are  supported  by  tlie  following  lexicographers,  viz.  Bailey,  Sheridan,  Perry, 
(ori.-^inal,  not  American  editions)  Jones,  Jameson,  (published  in  London  1827,)  Allison, 
and^'T odd's  Johnson  (published  in  Boston  1828,)  edited  by  J.  E.  Worcester.  This  omission 
c(  k  in  nome  words  is  said  to  be  a  great  iynprovemcnt,  and  it  is  made  the  subject  of  every 
newspaper  article  written  by  Mr.  Webster  or  his  friends,  and  is  particularly  dwelt  on  by 
him  in  his  lectures  and  speeches,  in  favour  of  his  system,  in  opposition  to  Johnson  and 
Walker.  But  it  is  utterly  impossible  for  any  person  to  adopt  all  the  contradictions  and 
inconsistencies  which  Mr.  Webster  has  in  the  orthography  of  this  class  of  words,  as  has 
been  fully  shown,  it  is  believed.  It  is  the  practice  with  many  writers,  editors,  and  printers, 
to  omit  the  k  in  some  of  these  words,  and  retain  it  in  others,  without  any  apparent  regard  to 
uniformity;  but  it  is  presumed  that  no  person,  after  having  thoroughly  examined  the  prin- 
ciples of  (lur  language,  v/ill  pursue  this  system  of  spelling  (merely  for  the  sake  of  conveni- 
ence) which  is  void  of  consistency  and  unifoi-mity,  and  prodv.ces  peiiolexity  m  the  fomiaUon 
of  many  derivatives. 

'  TheVccond  innovation  in  Mr.  Webster's  ortliography,  claimed  as  a  great  improvement, 
is  the  omission  of  w  in  the  unaccented  termination  our,  as  labour,  honour,  vigour,  infenour, 
&c.  The  "  rcLsons  "  assigned  in  support  of  this  omission  of  u,  contrary  to  our  most  appro- 
ved English  lexicographcr^s,  are,  that "  tliere  is  inconvenience,  if  not  impropriety,  in  writing 
labour  widi  u,  but  laborious  without  it:  as  also  rigour,  but  rigorous;  vigour,  invigorate ; 
inferiour,  inferiority,  &c.  We  deem  ii  most  correct  and  most  convenient,  to  restore  the 
original  Latin  orthography."  To  me,  the  above  "  reasons  "  seem  to  be  not  well  founded ; 
f©r    r-.aroning  from  the  f.a»ie  analogy,  we  mijjht  r/>ndemn  the  "  impropriety  of  inserting 


WEBSTERS  aUARTO  DICTIONARY.  $ 

it  ifl  curious,  s^enerous.  pompous,  &c.  when  it  is  not  in  curiosity,  generosity,  pomposity,  &c.;  t 
ni  declaim,  exclaim,  explain,  proclaim,  repair,  villain,  grain,  &c.  but  not  in  declamation,  excla- 
mation, explanation,  proclamation,  reparation,  villany,  granary,  6cc.,  also  the  '•  impropriety" 
of  inserting  a  in  congeal,  reveal,  &c.,  but  not  in  congelation,  revelation,  &c.  &c.,  in  all  of 
wiiich.  and  in  numerous  others  ofsimilai-  analog}',  Air.  Websf^r  has  inserted  letters  in  one 
word  (the  primitive)  which  are  not  in  the  other  (the  derivative,)  precisely  as  Johnson, 
Walkt.-r,  and  all  other  lexicogi-aphers  have.     In  fact,  tliere  arc  numerous  letters  in  our  lan- 
gus.gc,  many  of  which  are  necessary  in  the  primitive  woi'ds,  others  are  uimecessary ;  as 
final  e  in  waste,  name,  hate,  fertile,  servile,  t'k.c.;  final  7i  in  autumn,  condemn,  &c.;  u  in 
la!)our,  rigour,  generous,  &c.      Of  tliese  many  arc  useless  in  forming  the  derivative  words, 
as  e  in  wasting,  hating,  fertility,  servility,  &c. ;  u  in  laborious,  rigorous,  generosity,  &c. ; 
and  others  are  necessary,  as  n  in  autmnnal,  condemnation,  &c.     Again ;  many  words  are 
spelled  differently  from  otlicrs  of  a  lilce  or  similar  pronunciation,  by  the  use  of  a  different  let- 
ter which  shall  be  made  to  convey  the  same  sound  by  common  consent,  or  by  the  retention  oi 
silent  letters  in  many  words  which  shall  distinguish  one  word  from  another,  both  to  the  reader 
and  hearer ;  as  rein,  reign,  rain ;  bot,  boat,  bought ;  men,  mean,  mien  ;  the,  thee,  they ;  rite, 
right,  write,   wright ;  past,  paste ;  revel,  reveal ;  morning,  mourning ;  pus,  puss ;  man,  main ; 
wet,  weight;  bran,  brain,  brawn,  &c.  &c.      Hundreds  of  other^  letters  might  have  been 
expujiged  by  Mr.  Webster  with  as  much  an^  even  iii'oVe  propriety '  tlian  the  Ic  and  u  in  the 
tWo preceding  classes  of  words ;  for,  tliese  are  the  most  objectionable  classes  which  could 
possibly  have  been  selected  l)y  him,  as  he  has  not,  and  could  not,  render  them  either  U7ii- 
form  or  consistent.     Again,  Mr.  Wcb.ster  has  stated  that  "  this  orthography  (the  retention  of 
<^/)  is  not'calculated  to  exhibit  the  English  pronunciation."    In  the  preceding  declaration  Mr. 
Webster  was  under  a  great  misialce ;  for  this  unaccented  oiv  is  pronounced  like  u  shore 
consequently  when  the  u  is  retiuned  (as  it  should  be)  the  o  is  silent  and  the  u  is  sounded 
short,  as  in  the  original,  agi'ceably  to  the  iiile  of  pronouncing  this  unaccented  diphthong  ou 
(and  other  diphthongs  unaccented,  which  is,  that  the  first  vowel  should  be  silent,  and  the  latter 
sounded,  as  v.i  in  biscuit,  el  in  foreign,  ai  in  bargain,  &c.  »S:c.)  in  all  tlie  terminations  ons 
and  our.     This  principle  is  acknowledged  by  Mr.  Webster  in  his  Spelling-Book,  in  which 
he  has  0  italick  in  the  termination  o^ts,  and  u  Roman,  as  pious,  gric-suus,  &c.  and  in  the  word 
behaviour!  which  pointedly  co?t//-arf?c/5  his  statement  above ;  viz.  that  the  retention  of  the 
7t  "  is  not  calculated  to  exhibit  the  English  pronunciation."     Hence  if  Mr.  Webster  wished 
to  make  an  innovation  which  would  be  an  i?nprovemcnt,  he  slioiild  have  omitted  the  o  and 
retained  the  u ;  but  he  has  retained  the  o  which  should  be  omitted,  (if  either,)  and  is  silent 
[see  tlie  words  behavifiur,  page  91;  heinous,  pious,  p.  4G;  glorious,  previous,  p.  59 ;  inhis 
Spelling-Book.]  and  which  must  have  tli3  sound  of  the  u  (short)  which  he  expunged !  and 
h^  has  expunged  the  u  which  was  soxmded  ?      In  his  expulsion  of  u  in  this  imaccented  ou, 
wc  find  tlie  same  consistency  and  iinifurmiiy  which  characterize  his  expulsion  of  A'  in  the 
termination  ck,  as  he  has  omitted  the  u  in  about  fifty  v.'ords  ending  in  our,  and  has  retained 
it  in  the  same  unaccented  diphthong  in  about  si-t  hundred  words  ending  in  ous!     The  u  m 
this  unaccented  termination  our,  is  retained  in  this  cla.s3  of  words  by  those  lexicographers 
who  spell  the  words  v/hich  end  in  ck  uniformly,  viz.  Bailey.  Sheridan.  Perrj',  Jones,  Jam©' 
son,  Todd'.'j  Johnson,  (S:c. 

The  third  innovation  in  Mr.  Webster's  orthography,  which  he  claims  to  be  a  vrry  par- 
ticular improvement,  is  the  termination  of  the  class  of  words  v;  hich  end  in  re  in  all  other 
dictionaries.  In  the  orthography  of  diis  clas.^  of  words,  in  which  the  termination  re  is  pre- 
ceded by  a  consonant,  Mr.  Webster  has  made  a  nvmiber  of  variations,  and  has  many  con- 
tradictions and  inconsistencies.  He  has  spelled  accoutcr,  aniphidicater,  center,  concenter, 
fiber,  luster,  maneuver,  meter,  niitcr,  ocher,  scepter,  sepulcher,  specter,  and  vertcber,  with  er 
only  I  and  he  has  spelled  ornber  and  ombre,  saltpeter  and  saltpetre,  peter  and  petre,  tJieaicr 
and  theatre,  saber  and  sabre,  both  ways,  v/ith  er  and  re  ! 

Again;  he  has  spoiled  belleslettres,  chancre,  electre,.livre,  and  lucre,  with  re  only!  He 
has  also  spelled  acre  vj'wh  re,  and  aker  with  er !  and  has  given  alcer  the  preference,  as  "  the 
most  correct  orthomaphy,"  yet  he  has  written  it  acre  in  the  definition  of  rood!  He  has 
spelled  rnassacer  and  ir.assacrc,  with  cr  anc*  re!  and,  altJiough  he  ha"5  placed  massacer  first, 
yet  he  has  eiveh  massacre  in  the  dcfinhion  of  the  word  itselt!  Tiius  we  find  inconsistency 
and  a  v/ant"of  uniformity  in  the  orthc^^raphy  of  this  class  cT^'ords,  having  all  contradic- 
tions possible,  as  he  lias  spelled  part  of  them  with  cr,  or  re  only,  and  part  of  them  with  er 
and  re  both !  one  with  ccr,  and  one  with  kcr  !  It  is  indeed  surprising,  that  Mr.  Webster  has 
spelled  these  words  in  such  a  contradictory  manner.  Why  he  has  spelled  acre,  akcr^  witli 
ker,  and  not  lucre  and  chancre,  luker  and  chankcr,  with  ker  also,  -when  all  of  them  end  in 
ere  ;  and  f\irthcr,  why  he  has  spelled  massacer,  ccr,  akcr,  ker,  when  diese  four  end  in  ere, 
can  not  be  easily  seen  !  Great  perplexity  would  arise  m  the  fonnation  of  derivatives  from 
words  of  tliis  class  should,  they  end  in  er ;  but  wlicn  they  end  in  re,  we  drop  the  final  r, 
when  we  form  derivatives  by  adding  a  syllable  or  a  part  "f  a  syllable,  as  we  do  in  forming 
derivatives  from  other  words  which  end  in  c,  aiul  ihercby  render  tliem  rccrular  m  their  fomia- 
tion;  thus  centre,  centrick ;  fibre,  fibrous;  lustre,  lustrous;  mtrc.  introuK ;  scpulrhrc,  sepul- 
chral, &.C. :  but  they  must  be  fonncd  m  a  very  awkward  manner  when  these  v  ord.s  end  in 
er,  as  center,  jfntrick;  luster,  lustrous;  sepulchcr,  sepulchral,  «S:c.     Mr.  Webster  has,  when 


10  WEBSTER'S  aUARTO  DICTIONARY. 

speaking  of  thisj  class  of  wonls  in  his  introduction,  observed,  that  "  in  the  present  instance 
want  ei  unlforTJilty  is  not  the  only  evil.  Tiie  present  orthography  has  intnxluced  an 
awkward  modo  of  writing  the  derivatives,  for  example,  centred,  sceptred,  sepulchred." 
Yet  he  has  himself  '•  introduced"  this  "  awkward  mode  of  spelling  derivatives"  in  the  word 
acred,  which  he  has  spelled  crcd ;  and  agreeably  to  analogy,  he  must  spell  massacred,  cred, 
imless  he  shall  adopt  his  new  orthography  of  massaccr,  in  which  case  it  would  be  pro- 
nounced massasei'ed!  as  "  c,  before  e,  is  precisely  equivalent  to  5."  The  r  is  transposed  in 
the  pronunciation  of  the  word  acred  (as  he  has  spelled  it)  as  it  is,  and  should  be,  in  centred, 
sceptred,  &c.,  and  so  the  words  should  be  spelled.  The  same  inconsistency  which  he  has 
fallen  into  in  spelling  acred  and  massacred,  red  ;  and  centered  and  sceptered,  cred,  we  shall 
find  in  other  derivatives  formed  from  words  in  this  class ;  thus  chancre,  chancrous ;  and 
niter,  nitrous,  oils  ;  and  ocher,  ocherous,  erous !  But  if  these  words  be  spelled  witli  re,  no 
perplexity  or  inconsistency  will  then  exist  in  the  formation  of  derivatives. 

Johnson  and  Walker,  and  the  other  lexicogi'aphers  above  referred  to,  retain  the  re  in  these 
words,  and  are  consistent  and  uniform,  whereas,  from  the  preceding  exposition,  it  will  ap- 
pear that  Mr.  Webster  is  not. 

I  have  taken  notice  of  three  prominent  "  innovations"  in  the  orthography  oi*three  different 
classes  of  words,  in  the  American  DicTioxAuy,  viz.  words  which  end  in  ck,  in  unaccented 
our,  and  in  re.  These  "  innovations"  were  adopted  by  Mr.  Webster  in  his  former  dic- 
tionaries, and  in  Iris  Spelling-Book,  although  at  variance  with  Johnson,  Walker,  &c.  as  it 
has  been  shown. 

I  will  now  take  notice  of  some  of  his  new  '•  innovations,"  and  show  that  the  same  incoTtr- 
sistency  and  want  oi  uniformity  exist  in  tlieir  orthography  as  in  the  classes  of  which  notice 
has  been  ttiken. 

Of  the  class  of  words  which  end  inff,  (not  monosyllables,)  Mr.  Webster  has  spelled  many 
with  ff,  and  others  with  single  /;  as  bailif,  caitif,  dandruf,  mastif,  plaintlf,  pontif,  restif, 
sherif,  and  tarif,  with  single  /";  tUstafF,  hippogriff,  and  midriff,  w'\\h.j[!  Bailiff,  caitiff,  dan- 
druff, and  mastiff,  are  spelled  with^in  tlie  text,  but  he  has  corrected  them  in  his  "  correc- 
tions" at  the  close  of  Ins  dictionary,  by  spelling  them  with  single//  Thus  he  has  nine 
with  single  f,  and  three  with  (f!  He  has  spelled  bailif  with  single/  in  his  "  corrections," 
but  he  has  spelled  boundbailiff  and  bumbailiff  with  /T,  and  in  the  definition  of  bumbailiff  he 
has  also  used  underbailiff  with  //  He  has  spelled'  pontif  with  single  /,  and  archpontiff 
with^;  and  in  the  definition  of  archpontiff,  he  has  spelled  pontiff  with^.'  but  in  the  def- 
inition of  pontif  he  has  spelled  it  with  single//  He  has  spelled  dcputysheriff  with  J?", 
and  undersherif  with  single/;  and  in  defining  dcputysheriff  he  has  sheriff  with  ff,  but  in 
defining  undersherif  he  has  sherif  with  single//  In  his  "  cori'ections"  he  has  spelled  clif 
with  single  f,  but  in  his  text  he  has  all  of  the  other  monosyllab'^js  of  this  class  with^,  as 
cuff,  buf!^  piiff,  skiff,  &c. 

Thus  we  see  that  Mr.  Webster  is  extremely  inconsistent  and  contradictory  in  the  or- 
thography of  this  class  of  words.  Johnson,  W^allcer,  Todd,  Jameson,  &c.  &c.  have  spelled 
all  of  these  words  with  ff,  and  have  preserved  consistency  and  uniformity  ;  and  even  Mr. 
Webster  himself  spelled  all  these  words  witlij^  in  liis  two  former  dictionaries,  published  in 
1806  and  1817.  It  is  the  custom  in  our  language  to  write  /7"  and  ss  in  many  cases  where  all 
other  consonants  would  be  single,  particularly  in  unaccented  terminations,  as  bailiff,  sheriff, 
&c.  harass,  compass,  &c.  If  Mr.  Webster  would  be  consistent,  he  should  omit  one  s  in  the 
words  harass,  embarrass,  compass,  &c.  &c.  as  ss  is  as  "  unnecessary"  in  the  words  of  this 
class,  as  ff  is  in  the  class  of  words  in  which  he  has  expunged  an//  But  he  seems  not  to 
have  taken  consistency  into  the  account  at  all  in  making  his  innovations. 

In  speaking  of  the  class  of  words  which  end  in  ence  or  cnse,  Mr.  Webster  has  observed, 
that  "  defense,  expense,  offense,  pretense,  recompense,  should  be  spelled  witli  .s",  for  this  letter 
must  be  used  in  the  derivatives,  defensive,  expensive,  ^Jretension,  recompensing.  Uniformity 
is  here  a  great  convenience."  But  has  Mr.  Webster  by  this  change  of  c  to  s,  in  two  or  three 
words,  produced  "  uniformity"  throughout  the  language  1  He  has  retained  c  in  fence,  trance, 
&c.  so  that  the  same  "  anomalies"  appear  in  his,  as  in  other  dictionaries.  Thus  fence, 
trance,  fenceless,  fcnciblc,  tranced,  &c.,  withe;  and  offenseless,  defensible,  entransed,  &c., 
with  s!  If  he  intended  \r)  produce  "  uniformity,"  he  should  have  spelled  all  these  words 
with  c  or  s  only.  Again ;  he  has  spelled  enU^anse  (when  a  verb)  with  .s,  but  he  has  spelled 
disentrance  with  c,  and  he  has  spelled  the  derivatives  of  each  in  this  contradictory  manner, 
as  entransing,  entransed,  with  s,  fmd  disentrancing,  disentranced,  with  c!  He  has  also,  in 
defining  the  word  cntranse,  spelled  transe  with  .<?,  but  in  defining  disentrance,  he  has  spelled 
trance  with  c  /  Thus  every  possible  contradiction  and  want  of  "  uniformity"  in  this  class  of 
words  also. 

In  the  orthography  of  the  word  ache  and  its  compounds  and  derivatives,  Mr.  Webster  has 

a  number  of  "  anomalies  and  innovations"  which  are  void  of  consistency  and  uniformity ; 

for  instance,  he  has  spelled  ache  and  ake,  with  ch  and  k,  and  has  given  nke  the  preference ; 

but  in  all  the  compounds  he  has  ch,  as  bellyache,  boneache,  headach,  heartach,  and  toothache ! 

He  has  spelled  aching  and  aking,  with  ch  and  k,  without  giving  a  preference,  but  he  has 

spelled  unaking  but  one  way,  with  k  only !     He  has,  in  defining  ake,  spellc«i  toothake  and 

headake  with  k,  but  in  the  text  has  spelled  ihcm  toothache  and  headach,  with  ch!    He  has 


WEBSTER'S  aUARTO  DICTIONARY.  11 

spelled  bollyache,  boneache,  and  toothache,  v/iih  final  c,  and  hcadach  and  heartach  without 
it!  He  has  spelled  hcadach,  in  the  text,  v/ithout  final  e,  and  with  it  in  the  definition  of  tlie 
word  angor !  Thus  he  has  spelled  headach  three  difTcrent  ways  !  In  tliis  list  of  words, 
seven  in  number,  Mr.  Webster  has  Jive  contradicl  ions  and  inconsistencicA ! 

The  next  "  innovations"  in  the  orthography  of  tliis  work,  of  which  I  shall  take  notice,  arc 
those  in  the  words  which  usually  end  in  I  or  II. 

Mr.  Webster  has  observed,  that  befall,  install,  recall,  foretell,  distill,  fulfill.  &c.,  should  end 
with  II.  The  "  reasons'^  given  are,  that  "  the  orthography,  bcfal,  recal,  instal,  (single  I,) 
leads  to  a  false  pronunciation.  This  is  not  the  case  wiih  foretel,  &c.,  but  in  all  such  words, 
tlie  last  consonant  must  be  doubled  in  the  derivation,  foretelling,  distillery,  distiller,  and  a 
rule  is  more  convenient  tlian  a  rule  and  an  exception." 

The  foregoing  "  reason'  \\\  favour  of  ending  foretell,  distill,  fulfill,  &c.,  withZ/,  instead  of 
.<;ingle  I,  viz.  "  that  tTic  last  consonant  must  be  doubled  in  the  derivation,  foreteller,  distiller," 
&c.,  is  veiy  novel  and  singular^  and  seems  not  to  be  supported  cither  by  analogy  or  custom  ; 
for  unless  t  be  a.j)rivileged  letter,  there  can  be  no  better  "  reason"  given  in  support  of  doubling 
thai  letter  in  distill,  extill,  &c.,  than  in  favour  of  doubling  r  in  debar,  n  in  trepan,  t  in  admit, 
&c.  &c.,  because  the  r,  n,  and  t  "  must  be  doubled  in  the  derivation,"  debarring,  ti'epanning, 
admitting,  &c. ;  and  Mr.  Webster's  practice  is  far  from  acknowledging  I  as  a  privileged 
letter,  as  he  has  not  given  it  so  much  privilege  as  other  lexicographers  have,  for  he  has 
spelled  counselor,  traveler,  &c.,  wiUi  single  I  instead  of  //,  as  ail  others  have  .spelled  tliem. 
Although  the  preceding  "  reasons"  are  given  as  conclusive  arguments  in  favour  of  doubling 
final  I  in  these  words,  yet  we  find  the  same  inconsistencies  and  contradictions  in  the  or- 
thography of  this  class  of  words,  v/hich  characterize  the  other  "  innovations"  and  intended. 
"  improvements"  in  the  orthography  of  the  language,  of  v/hich  notice  has  been  taken.  Thus 
he  ha3  spelled  distill,  extill,  Ibrctcll,  instill,  with  U,  and  compel,  dispel,  exjiel,  excel,  impel, 
propel,  rebel,  (verb,)  rcfel,  repel,  with  single  I!  and  the  I  is  doubled,  and  "  must  be  in  the 
derivations"  of  all  these  words  alike !  Again ;  Mr.  Webster  has  annul,  disannul,  with 
single  I,  contrary  to  the  "  reasons"  above  given,  as  the  I  "  must  be  doubled  in  the  deriva- 
tions," annulling,  annulled,  disannulling,  &c. ;  and  he  can  not  assign  this  as  a  "  reason," 
that  the  u  v/ould  be  sounded  as  in  bull,  should  the  I  be  doubled,  as  u  never  has  tlmt  sound 
when  preceded  by  n  I  the  orthography  of  these  words  then  is  a  co7itra diction  of  his  rule. 
Thus  he  has  the  following,  with  numerous  other  similar  inconsistencies :  annulment,  disan- 
nulment,  &c.,  with  single  Z,  and  distilli\ient,  fulfillment,  &c.,  with  U!  He  has  .spelled  control, 
parol,  bandrol,  witli  single  I,  and  enroll,  dlsenroll,  patvoll,  unroll,  with  ill  Thus  we  find  the 
following  inconsistencies:  controlment  with  single  Z,  and  enrollment  with  ZZ/  Johnson, 
Walker,  Jameson,  &c.,  have  spelled  tliese  last  three  classes  of  v/ords  witli  single  Z,  in  the 
orthography  of  which  they  arc  consistent  and  uniform. 

It  is  the  custom  with  aJl  lexicographers  (except  Mr.  AVebster)  to  omit  one  Z  in  the  deriva- 
tives and  compounds  of  fill,  full,  skill,  will,  &c.,  thu.-;  fulness,  sinfulness,  skilful,  wilful,  skilful- 
ness,  &c. ;  but  Mr.  Webster  has  spelled  fullness,  skillful,  willful,  &c.  with  II,  though  he  has 
single  I,  in  the  last  syllable  of  skillful,  willful,  &c.  He  cannot,  with  any  degree  of  i:»ropricty, 
assert  that  II  are  inserted  in  fullness,  die.  to  denote  the  sound  of  u,  as  the  u  has  tlie  same 
sound  in  fulfill,  skillful,  skillfulness,  spoonful,  handful,  &c.  in  wliich  it  is  followed  by  single  Z/ 
Hence  we  observe  tliat  there  is  nc\i\\er  propriety  nor  consiste7icy  in  tliis  doubling  of  Z  by 
Mr.  Webster  in  the  compounds,  above  refeiTed  to,  conti-ary  to  tlie  established  rules  of  tlie 
language,  adhered  to  by  all  other  lexicographers.  Again;  Mr.  Webster  has  urged  in 
favour  of  his  system  of  orthogi-aphy,  that  he  has  "  abbreviated"  and  omitted  "  all  useless" 
letters,  as  well  as  rendered  the  language  "  uniform ;"  but  tliis  insertion  of  another  Z  in  com- 
pounds in  v/hich  it  is  both  inconsistent,  ''useless,"  and  not  "  uniform,"  is  rather  a  novel  way 
of  abbreviating  tlie  language  !  Mr.  Webster  has  stated  that,  "  befall,  install,  &c.  with  single 
Z,  would  lead  to  a  false  pronunciation  ;"  yet  he  has  .spelled  witlial,  therewithal,  wherewithal, 
with  single  Z,  in  which  the  a  has  tlie  same  sound  as  in  befall,  &c.  precisely  as  Johnson, 
Walker,  &c.  have  spelled  tliem  ! 

Again  ;  he  has  spelled  also,  always,  already,  6x.  with  single  Z,  (in  which  a  has  tlie  broad 
sound,)  Just  as  Johnson,  Walker,  and  other  lexicographers  have  spelled  them ;  and  tJiere 
is  as  much  fear  that  "  single  I  would  lead  to  a  false  pronunciation,"  in  tliesc  words  as  in 
the  words  in  which  he  has  dmiblcd  thcZ/  Mr.  W.  has  observed  that  Z  should  not  be  doubled 
in  cavilled,  traveller,  counsellor,  &c.  as  it  is  in  tlie  dictionaries  of  Johnson,  W;Uker,  &c.  and  as 
it  was  in  the  two/o??/iC'/"  dictionaries  of  Mr.  Webster;  but  tliat  tlicse  words  should  be  Fpellcd 
traveler,  &c.  with  one  Z;  yet  he  has  .s])'jllcd  chain  lling,  bordeller,  nicdalli.st.  meUxlline,  nietal- 
iist,  metallize,  clavellatcd,  &c.  with  II,  contrary  to  his  rule!  Again,  he  has  .spelled  cancela- 
tion and  snively  with  single  Z,  and  cupcllation,'panncI!ation,  wiitoUy,  with  ZZ/  And  he  has 
also  spelled  counsellor  witli  U,  contrary  to  his  text,  in  defining  each  «'f  tlic  following  words, 
twice  under  apply,  three  times  under  aitomey,  and  luid'T  aulic;  traveller  with  U,  contrary  to 
his  text,  in  defining  baggage  and  bourn;  couns(.Hing  with  II  contrary  to  liis  text,  in  defining 
abetting;  fulfilment  with  single  Z  contrary  t/)  iiis  text,  in  dcfinini:  accomplishment,  n.ssets, 
and  bilk;  caviller,  cmpanncllcd,  durlling,  m«>'!jlling,  driviller,  with  U,  contrary  tn  his  text, 
in  defining  findfault,  charter,  cunteniptibie,  fated,  and  drivel;  and  thcoC  word:,  al)ovc  noted, 
spelled  contrary  to  his  text  in  \\i^  clefiniuons,  ho  has  Uktc  spelled  Hjfrccably  to  Joinisoq^ 


i2  WEBSTER'S  aUARTO  DICTIONARY. 

Walker,  Jameson,  &.c. '.  I     Thus  we  see  in  tliis  as  in  ail  the  other  "  innovations"  of  Mr.  Web- 
ster, he  has  contradictions  and  inconsist-encies  in  every  possible  form ! 

In  the  omission  of  one  I  in  comiselor,  traveler,  6zc.  Mr.  Webster  seems  not  to  be  sup- 
ported by  analogy ;  for  the  letter  I  is  and  always  hasi  been  ^privileged  letter,  as  well  as /and 
s,  being  dovibled  in  cases  where  no  other  consonants  are  doubled,  as  ball,  fell,  will,  roll,  bull, 
puff,  pass,  puss,  &c. ;  but  cab,  lad,  leg.  ram,  ran,  rap,  far,  met;  cic.  &c.  have  the  consonants 
b,  d,g^  ni,  n,p,  r.  t,  &c.  single  in  the  same  situation.  Thus  in  words  of  more  than  one  sylla- 
ble, bailiff,  tariff,  harass,  embarrass,  &c.  lire/ and  s  are  doubled,  in  the  primitive  and  deriv- 
ative words.  So  Vv'ithZ  in  the  v/ords  counsellor,  traveller,  ixc.  &c.  it  is  doubled  in  the  deriv- 
ative although  single  in  the  primitive  counsel,  travel,  6cc.  for  tlie  Z  is  a  liquid  letter,  easily 
uniting  with  other  letters,  and  has  not  i?i  any  situation  in  the  language,  the  power  of  short- 
ening tlie  sounds  of  tlie  vov/els  which  precede  it.  This  is  tire  reason  why  I,  n\  2ourticular,  is 
doubled  in  all  monosyllables  when  ail  (with  few  exceptions,  and  Mr.  Webster  has  not  cor- 
rected those  exceptions)  the  other  consonants  arc  single  as  shown  above ;  and  for  the  same 
Teaso7i  Z,  not  having  the  shortening  power  as  other  consonants,  as  above  stated,  is  doubled 
in  the  derivative  words  counsellor,  counselling,  traveller,  travelled,  cavilling,  &.c.  &c.  although 
single  in  travel,  &c.  while  the  letters  t,  r,  &c.  are  not  doubled  in  the  derivatives  coveted,  prof- 
ited, differing,  mm-muring.  &c.  when  unaccented,  as  tlie  letter  /  is  doubled. 

In  the  orthography  of  tlic  class  of  words  that  end  in  r/ih,  Mr.  Webster  has  introduced  a 
number  of  '•  inkovatioxs"  and  inconsistencies.  Thus,  he  has  spelled  dumb,  limb,  and 
numb,  with  b  ;  and  cruni  without  it !  He  has  spelled  dumb  with  b,  and  dmnfound  without 
iL  He  has  spelled  thumb  and  tlium  with  b  and  without  it ;  and  has  given  thum  without  b 
the  preference;  and  iie  has  also  spelled  thimiring  and  thumstall  without  i,  and  in  defi- 
ning thum  and  its  derivatives  he  has  spelled  it  thum  witiiout  b  seven  times;  but  in  defining 
finger  and  forefinger  he  ha-s  spelled  it  Uiumb  with  b  three  times  !  In  his  text  he  has  spelled 
benum,  benumming  and  benummed  \yithout  final  b,  but  in  defining  tlie  words  numb  and  tor- 
pent,  he  has  spelled  benumb,  beniuiibing,  and  benumbed,  with  b,  contrary  to  his  text ! 

Mr.  Webster  has  spelled  matrass,  carcass,  &c.  with  55  in  the  unaccented  syllable,  as 
Walker,  Johnson,  and  others  have  spelled  them ;  but  he  has  spelled  cutlas  with  single  5, 
contrary  to  them  and  to  analogy  and  v.miformily !  for  if  cutlas  be  spelled  with  single  5,  mat- 
rass, &c.  shovild  be,  most  unquestionably.  Johnson,  Walker,  and  others,  spell  porpoise  and 
tortoise  with  the  termination  oise,  but  Mr.  Webster  has  made  an  "  innovation  "  by  spelling 
poi-pess  (ess)  to  produce  "  uniformity  "  in  his  orthography,  which  "  is  a  prime  excellence  in 
the  rules  of  language." 

Mr.  Webster  has  spelled  conscientious  with  t  in  tlie  last  syllable,  but  iinconscicncious 
■with  c,  and  in  defining  unconsciencious,  he  has  consciencious  with  c,  contrary  to  his  text! 
He  has  spelled  analyzed  with  z,  but  unanalyscd  with  s,  and  in  defining  unaiialysed  he  has 
§pelled  analysed  with  5,  contrary  to  his  text !  He  has  spelled  vizard  v.-itli  z,  but  unvisard 
with  5/  He  has  spelled  poised  v»-ith;,  but  unpoized  wither,  and  in  defining  unpoizcd  he 
has  spelled  poized  v/ith  z,  conti'ary  to  his  text !  He  has  spelled  composite  and  decomi^osite 
with  final  e,  and  deposit  and  rcposit  without  e !  He  has  spelled  imbittered  with  i,  but  unem- 
bittered  with^,  and  in  defining  unembittered  he  has  spelled  embittered,  contrary  to  his  text! 
He  has  spelled  imbosoiTi  with  t,  but  disembosom  withe/  He  has  spelled  imbrangle 
witli  t,  but  disembrangle  with  e !  He  has  spelled  inthralled  with  r,  but  unen- 
thralled  witlie.'  He  has  spelled  inversely  and  adversely  with  e  altci-  .<:,  but  diversly 
without  e!  He  has  spelled  ethereal  with  c,  but  in  his  "  additions  "  at  the  close  of  the  book, 
etherialize  and  etherialized  with  i  I  He  has  spelled  rcftree  with  single  ?-,  but  transferree 
with  rr/  He  has  spelled  covmselor  with  singled,  but  ch^^ncellor  with ///  He  has  spelled 
entreat  with  c,  but  intrcatful  with  ?,  and  has  defined  it  tlius,  "full  ofcntreaty  "  !  He  has 
spelled  analyze  withy,  but  parali?.e  with  i,  and  in  defining  palsy  in  his  "  additions"  he  has 
paralyze  with  y,  contrary  to  his  text !  He  has  spelled  in  v/rap  with  i,  but  cnwrapment  with 
e  I  He  has  spelled  plumtree  without  i,  but  hogplumbtree  with  it !  He  has  spelled  baize  with 
final  e,  but  maiz  without  it !  He  has  spelled  purslain  with  ain,  but  horscpurslane  with  one! 
He  has  spelled  soothe  (verb)  with  final  c,  but  smooth  (verb)  without  it,  and  00  has  the  same 
iSbund  in  both  words  !  He  has  spelled  brier  v.jtli  c,  but  sweetbriar  Mith  a,  and  after  the  word 
he  has  {sv:cet  and  briar']  in  which  he  has  spelled  briar  witli  a,  conn-ary  to  his  text!  Again, 
in  defining  brier,  he  has  spelled  sv.-eetbrier  with  <?,  contrary  to  his  textl  He  hss  spelled  gos- 
peller and  hospitaller  with  II,  but  modeler  and  victualer,  &c.  witli  single  Z/  He  has  spelled 
alledged  with  d,  but  allegeable  and  allegcmcnt  M'ithout  it!  He  has  ciimlet  Avithout  b,  tut 
gmiblet  with  it,  and  in  defining  bore  and  Vv-;mblc  he  has  spelled  f;imlet  without  b,  contrary  to 
his  text!  He  has  spelled  potato  and  wo  v.-itliout  final  e,  but  mui:ketoe  with  it,  and  in  defi- 
ning batatas  he  has  pct.atoe  with  c,  and  also  in  defining  <  ^  cch  snd  feci  he  has  fpelled  woe 
•withe,  contrary  to  his  textl  He  has  spelled  garlic  without  A',  but  pil-gorliok  with  it,  and 
after  the  word  he  has  {pilled  ix\-\(\  gar  lick]  with  /.-,  contrary  to  his  text!  He  has  laureate 
\yidi  e,  but  poetlaureat  without  it !  He  has  spelled  enchanted  with  c,  but  uninchantcd  witJi 
i  and  «  both  !  He  has  t^pelled  furlow  (  furlovgh)  and  plow  (j/lmigh)  wkh  cic,  \ristei\d  cl 
ovgh,  as  other  lexicographers  have  spelled  tlitm,  but  he  has  spelled  slough,  thorough,  &c. 
with  ovgk,  as  others  have  them  ! 

Mr.  Wcl)ster  bar-;,  in  hi-?  i)ilroduction,  censured  Johnson,  Wslker.  Todd,  Sheridan,  Jone*, 


WEBSTERS  aUARTO  DI<JTiO^^ARY.  l« 

&c.  for  their  inconsistencies  in  tlie  orthograpliy  of  many  words  iii  ■wlur.li  he  now  professes 
to  have  produced  uniformity :  as  w  in  daub  and  lo  in  bedawb ;  judgement  with  e,  but  acknowl- 
edgment without  it ;  proveablc,  movea!)le,  &c.  wiUi  e,  but  reprovable,  immovable,  dec.  witli- 
out  it ;  traveller,  counsellor,  witli  II  instoad  of  single  / ;  yet  Mr.  Webster  kad  all  these 
"inconsistencies,"  for  which  he  has  so  strongly  censured  ol/icr  lexicographers,  in  both  his 
foryncr  dictionaries,  published  in  180G  iu^.d  1817;  and  even  the  word  dispatch,  of  which  he 
has  said  so  much  in  his  introduction,  he  spelled  in  both  \\\s  former  dictionaries  despatch  with 
e,  as  Johnson,  Walker,  and  otliers  have  spelled  it ! 

I  should  not  have  considered  it  my  duty  to  allude  to  the  above  facts,  had  Mr.  Webster, 
instead  of  censuring  Johnson,  Walker,  Jones,  &c.  for  their  inconsistencies  in  the  orthogra- 
phy of  the  words  above  noted,  merely  observed,  that  Johnson,  Walker,  Todd,  &c.  and 
myself  (Mr.  Webster)  have  spelled  these  words  m\h\'f,  contradictory  manner  in  oi/r  diction- 
aries, which  I  have  noio  endeavoured  to  reduce  to  unifonnity  !  The  contradictory  manner 
in  which  he  has  spelled  the  words  abridgment,  acknowledgment,  judgment,  and  lodgment  in 
his  former  works,  would  seem  to  require  the  above  admi.ssion  on  his  part :  for  instance  ;  in 
his  Spelling-Book  he  spelled  abridgement  and  judgement  witli  c  [acknowledgment  and 
lodgment  w-ere  not  in  his  spelling  lessons];  in  his  dicliojmry,  published  in  ISOG,  he  spelled 
abridgment  and  acknowledgment  without  e,  but  judgement  and  lodgement  with  it!  in  his 
dictionaiy,  published  in  1817,  he  spelled  all  of  them  with  e,  abridgement,  acknowledgement, 
judgement,  and  lodgement !  in  this,  the  American  Dictionary  he  has  spelled  all  of  them  with- 
out e,  abridgment,  acknowledgment,  judgment,  and  lodgment,  while  abridgement  and  judge- 
ment have  remained  tlie  same,  with  e,  in  his  Spelling-Book,  dming  this  covmter-revoluUon 
in  his  dictionaries ! 

Again;  there  arc  many  other  "  inconsistencies  "  in  tlie  English  language  which  require 
con'ection  as  n.uch  as  those  which  Mr.  Webster  has  endeavoured  to  reduce  to  uniformity; 
as  benum  without  b,  but  numb  with  it ;  wreath  without  final  c,  but  inwrcathe  with  it;  imbitter 
with  i,  but  disembittcr  withe ;  dryly,  dryness,  shyly,  and  shyness,  with  y,  but  slily  and  sli- 
nessv/ithi;  conversable  witli  a,  but  reversible  witli  i ;  forbear  with  c^,  despair  with  ar, 
and  prepare  with  a,  when  each  termination  is  pronounced  alike,  a  long;  precede,  recede, 
secede,  &c.  with  the  termination  cde,  and  exceed,  proceed,  and  succeed,  with  ecd,  &c.  &c.  in 
all  of  which  he  has  the  same  "inconsistencies  "  and  "preposterous  anomalies*'  which  are 
in  otjier  dictionaries. 

X  will  now  attempt  to  sliow  wherein  Mr.  Webster's  "  Americeui  Dictionary  "  is  particu- 
larly objectionable  as  a  "  Standard  or  Orthographa'." 

It  is  presumed  that  eveiy-  person  will  readily  admit,  that  a  dictionary  should,  if  intended 
to  be  a  "  standard  of  orthography,"  possess  the  following  qualities  in  an  eminent  degree. 
1.  "Certain  rules  should  be  adopted  and  pursued  tlirough  the  several  classes  of  v.'ords,  and 
their  orthography  should  be  reduced  to  uniformity." — 2.  No  innovation  in  orthography  should 
be  made,  unless  by  the  introduction  of  that  innovation  an  "cuiomaly  "  is  corrected  and  uni- 
formity produced. — 3.  The  orthogi-aphy  of  the  primitive  and  derivative  words  should  be 
uniform  and  consistent. — i.  The  sa.vie  words  should  not.be  dilTcrcntly  spelled,  either  in  the 
text,  or  in  the  definitions  of  other  words;  and  want  of  decision  in  this  particular  alone, 
should  be  a  paramount  objection  to  the  adoption  of  any  dictionary  as  a  "  Stand.\rd  or 

ORTHOGRAPiiy  ! " 

I  have  already  shown,  it  is  believed,  tliat  in  the  first,  second,  and  third  particulars,  above 
alluded  to,  Mr.  Webster  has  not,  except  in  a  very  few  instances,  produced  unifonnity,  cither 
in  the  "certain  rules  which  he  has  adopted  and  pursued   through  the  several   classes  of 
words,"  or  in  the  "  innovations  "  which  he  has  made  ;  and,  that  he  ha.s.  in  the  orthography  of 
primitive  and  derivative  words,  more  contradictions  than  John.son,  AValker,  Jones,  Todd,  or 
Jameson  !  yet  Mr.  Webster  has  stated  that  "  No  two  English  writers  agree  on  the  subject  of. 
orthography;  and  what  is  Avorse,  no  lexicographer  is  <;<;?j.';t5;enMvith  himself  I  "  when  he 
has  more  "  inconsistencies^^  than  all  of  them! ! !     But  the  fourth,  and  most  important  and 
prominent  particular,  which  should  be  manifested  on  the  part  of  the  lexicographer  who, 
writes  a  dictionary,  designed  as  a  "  standard  of  orthography,"  is  decision  in  giving  the 
orthography  of  each  word;  and  I  will  now  endeavour  to  show  that  Mr.  Webster  has  exhib- 
ited a  greater  v^ont  of  decision  in  this  important  point  than  any  of  his  predecessors.       First, 
— he  has  spelled  many  words  in  two  different  ways  without  having  given  a  preference,  each, 
of  whrch-he  has  defined  precisely  or  nearly  alike,  and  these  words  have  been  spelled  but. 
one  w&Y  in  his  former  dictionaries,  and  in  the  dictionaries  of  Johnson,   Walker,   &c. ; 
Secondly — he  has  in  using  the  words  thus  differently  spelled  in  his  text,  in  defining  other- 
words,  spelled  tliem   sometimes  with    one  ortliograjihy,  ami  sometimes  with  the  otlier: 
Thirdly — he  has   frequently  spelled  a  word  two  ways,  Jinfi  has  given  a  preference  ;  but  he 
has  as  often,  in  his  definitions,  used  the  orthography  which  he  has  nut  preferred  as  tliat 
which  he  has  preferred  :     Fourthly — he  has,  in  many  instances,  changed  the  orthography  of 
a  word,  and  inserted  the  former  orllio^raphj'-,  and  has  referred  the  reader  to  tlie  new  spel- 
ling; but  he  has  changed  the  orthograpliy  of  other  words  without  having  given  the  former 
orthography,  or  any  reference  to  it:     Fifthly — he  has   many   worrls  that   are  spelled  two 
ditfcrent  ways  in  his  text,  wliich  he  has  coupled,  sometimes  even  without  reference  to  their 
alphabcticararrnngrmfnt.s,  sothfi  the  reader  can  see  the  different  spelling  of  the  iawt  word, 


14  WEBSTER'S  aUARTO  DICTIONARY. 

€it  once,  which  is  a  great  ronvenience ;  but  he  has  other  words  differently  spelled  which  are 
not  thus  coupled,  which  is  a  great  inconvenience :  Sixthly — he  has,  in  his  text,  coupled 
many  words  which  he  has  spelled  in  two  different  ways,  with  one  first  in  its  alphabetical 
arrangement,  and  in  another  place  the  other  word  first,  agreeably  to  the  alphabetical  arrange- 
ment of  that  word,  in  this  manner,  alternately  giving  each  word  thus  coupled,  a  preference 
by  placing  it  first ! 

First:  he  has  spelled  many  words  in  two  different  ways,  without  having  given  a  prefer- 
ence, each  of  which  he  has  defined  jp'cciscly  or  nearly  alike,  and  these  words  have  been 
spelled  but  one  way  in  his  former  dictionaries,  and  in  the  dictionaries  of  Johnson,  Walker, 
&c.,  as  above  stated.  He  has  enlistment,  the  act  of  enlisting,  tmd  inlistment,  the  act  of  in- 
listing,  but  m  reinlistment  he  has  given  i  the  preference !  He  has  encase  and  incase,  to  in- 
close in  a  case  !  He  has  embolden  and  imbolden,  to  encourage !  He  has  empcople  and  im- 
people,  to  form  into  a  community  !  He  has  embody  and  imbody,  re-embody  and  rc-imbody, 
with  e  and  i  both,  but  unembodied  with  e  only  !  He  has  apostrophe  and  apostrophy,  witli'  e 
and  tj  both !  He  has  greyhound  and  grayhound,  a  tall  fleet  dog,  used  in  (kept  for)  the 
chase  I  He  has  encirclet  and  incirclet,  with  e  and  i  I  He  has  entwine  and  intwine,  to 
twine,  &c. !  He  has  entwist  and  intwist,  to  twist,  &c. !  He  has  eml>ower  and  imbower  I 
He  has  embow  and  imbow,  to  arch,  to  vault !  He  has  encrust  and  incrust,  to  cover  with  a 
crust!  He  has  cyclopedia  and  cyclopede,  with  ia  and  e ;  and  again,  he  has  encyclopedia 
and  encyclopedy,  with  ia  and  y !  He  has  encumber,  encumbered,  encumbrance,  and  incum- 
ber, incumbered,  mcumbrance ;  but  disencumber,  disencumbered,  disencumbrance,  with  e 
only;  and  incumbered  and  unincumbered,  witli  e  and  i  both!  He  has  enforce,  enforcement, 
with  c  only,  but  re-enforce,  re-enforccmcnt,  re-inforcc,  re-inforcement,  with  e  and  i  both  ! 
He  has  given  the  three  words  which  end  in  ecd,  three  different  ways ;  thus,  proceed  and 
precede,  with  eed  and  ede,  and  ecd  placed  first  as  the  preferable  spelling ;  succede  and  suc- 
ceed, with  ede  and  eed,  and  ede  placed  first;  exceed  one  way,  with  ced^on\y\ !  Again;  he 
has  spelled  all  the  derivatives  and  compounds  of  these  three  words,  and  in  their  definitions, 
eed !  He  has  catastrophe  and  catastrophy ;  epitome  and  epitomy ;  syncope  and  syncopy  : 
synecdoche  and  synecdochy,  with  e  and  y  both !  He  has  sheath  and  sheathe  (verb)  witli 
final  e  and  without !  &c.  &c.  &c. 

Secondly :  he  has,  in  using  the  words  thus  differently  spelled  in  his  text,  in  defining  otlier 
words,  spelled  them  sometimes  with  one  orthography,  and  sometimes  with  the  other;  thus, 
he  has,  in  defining  reinlist  and  reinlistment,  S2:)elled  inlist  with  i,  but  in  defining  beat,  engage, 
and  enter,  he  has  spelled  it  enlist,  with  e !  He  has,  in  defining  impanate  and  incorporate, 
spelled  embody  with  c,  but  in  defining  reimbody,  he  has  spelled  imbody  with  i !  He  has,  in 
defining  apostrophe  and  its  derivatives,  spelled  apostrophe  with  e  three  times,  and  apostro- 
phy with  y  three  times  !  Again ;  in  his  explanation  of  "  case,^'  in  his  grammar,  prefixed  to 
the  American  Dictionary,  he  has  spelled  apostrophy  v/ith  y  twice !  He  has,  in  defining 
breathe  and  leash,  spelled  greyhovmd  with  e,  but  in  defining  course  and  stablestand,  he  has 
spelled  it  grayhound,  with  al  He  has,  in  defining  clog  and  load,  spelled  encumber  with  c, 
but  in  defining  burden,  he  has  spelled  incumber  with  i  !  He  has,  in  defining  clog  and  load, 
spelled  encumbrance  with  e,  but  in  defining  clear  and  clogging,  he  has  spelled  incumbrance 
with  i !  &c.  &c.  &c. 

Thirdly :  he  has  frequently  spelled  a  word  two  ways,  and  has  given  a  preference ;  but  he 
has  as  often  used  the  orthography  in  his  definitions,  which  he  has  oiot  preferred  in  his  text, 
as  tliat  which  he  has  preferred  !  Thus,  he  has  spelled  feather  and  fcther  witli  a  and  witliout 
?t,  and  has  given  fether,  without  a,  the  preference,  as  "  the  most  correct  orthogi-aphy ;"  and, 
in  defining  feather  and  its  derivatives,  he  has  spelled  felhcr  without  a  twenty-six  times ;  in 
defining  plume  and  its  derivatives,  seventeen  times ;  in  defining  fledge,  seven  times ;  and  in 
defining  fowl,  goose,  hawk,  pillow,  last,  quill,  tick,  and  unfledged,  he  has  also  spelled  fether 
without  a ;  but  in  defining  bipcnnate,  bird,  avoset,  bed,  bolster,  crest,  crane,  and  crow,  he 
has  spelled  feather  with  «.  /  He  has  spelled  leather  and  letlier  with  a  and  without  it,  and  has 
given  Icther,  without  a,  the  preference,  as  "  the  most  correct  ortliography ;"  and  in  de- 
fining leatlicr  and  its  derivatives,  he  has  spelled  lether  without  a  nine  times ;  and,  in  de- 
fining last,  leash,  moccason,  pocket-book,  shoe,  and  thong,  he  has  also  spelled  lether  without 
a;  but  in  defining  air-jacket,  alutation,  awl,  apron,  ball,  bind,  bandoleers,  buckskin,  cord- 
wainer,  coriaceous,  and  cushion,  he  has  spelled  leather  with  a  I  He  has,  in  defining  leather 
and  quail-pipe,  spelled  lethcrn  without  a ;  but  in  defining  bandoleers  and  hose,  he  has 
leathern  with  a !  He  has  spelled  villainy  and  villany  with  i  in  the  second  syllable,  and 
without  it,  and  has  given  villany,  without  i,  ihe  preference;  and,  in  defining  villain  and  its 
derivatives,  and  archvillany,  he  has  spelled  it  villany,  without  i,  six  times;  but  in  definiru.^ 
enormity,  flagitiousness,  exceed,  outrageous,  and  outvillain,  he  has  spelled  villainy  with  i ! 
He  has  spelled  steadfi\st,  steadfastness,  steady,  and  stedfast,  stedfastness,  and  stcddy,  with  a 
and  without  it,  and  has,  in  defining  steady,  steadfast,  and  their  derivatives,  spelled  stedfast 
without  a  four  times,  stcdfiistncss  Vv-ithout  a  twice,  stcddy  without  a  nine  times,  and  steddi- 
noss  without  a  six  times,  and  stcdfastncss  v.ithoutft,  m  defining  immovability,  stedfast 
without  a,  in  defining  immovable;  but  in  defining  firm,  stalile,  and  resolute,  ho  has  spelled 
steady  with  a;  in  defining  firmness  and  fixedness,  he  ha»;  steadfastness  with  «.;  and 
in  defining  fixation,  resolution,  stability,   and  stablcness,  he   has  also  spelled  steadiness 


WEBSTER'S  aCTARTO  DICTIONARY.  15 

with  a !  He  has  tipcUcd  sovereign  and  suvcran,  and  heis  given  suvcran  tlie  preference, 
us  "the  true  spelling;"  and  in  defining  suveran  and  iLs  derivatives,  he  has  spelled 
euveran  with  u  seven  times,  and  suveranty  once ;  but  in  defining  sovei-eign  and  its  deriva- 
tives, he  has  spelled  sovereign  witli  o,  and  in  defining  empress  he  has  sovereignty  with  o! 
He  has  spelled  nuisance  and  nusance  witli  i  and  witliout  it,  and  in  defining  nuisance  he  hzia 
spelled  nusance  without  i ;  but  in  defining  abate  and  its  derivatives,  he  has  spelled  nuisance 
with  i  tln-ee  times !  6cc.  &c.  &c. 

Fourthly :  he  has,  in  many  instances,  changed  the  orthography  of  a  word,  and  Inserted  the 
former  orthography,  and  has  referred  the  reader  to  the  neo'  spelling;  but  he  has  changed  the 
ortliography  of  other  words  without  having  given  the  former  orthography,  or  any  reference 
to  it.  Thus,  he  has  "  bridegroom  [see  bridegoom,]'  which  is  ilic  new  spelling;  he  has 
"cloak  [see  cloke,]"  whicli  is  the  neta  spelling;  "  ensure  [see  insure;]"  he  has  "  endorse 
[see  indorse;]"  he  has  "  cruise  [sec  erase ;]"'  "  chemist  [see  c'uimist,]"  &c.  &c.  &c. ;  but  lie 
has  changed  the  orthography  of  the  words  mosk,  ribin,  cutlas,  skain,  sherif,  tarif,  gimblet, 
porpess,  &c.  &c.,  without  having  given  tlie  former  ortliography.  wliich  is  mosque,  riband, 
cutlass,  skein,  sheriff,  tariff,  gimlet,  poqjoise,  &c.,  or  any  reference  to  it  in  his  text! 

Fifthly :  he  has  many  words  spelled  two  different  ways  in  his  text,  wliich  he  has  coupfed, 
sometimes  even  without  reference  to  their  alphabetical  aiTangement,  so  lliat  tlie  reader  can 
see  the  different  spelling  of  the  sa7ne  word  at  once ;  but  he  lias  otlier  words  differently 
spelled,  which  are  not  thus  coupled,  which  is  a  great  inconvenience.  Thus,  he  has,  in  the 
text,  coupled  crier  and  cryer,  croop  and  croup,  boose  and  bouse,  tongue  and  tung,  featlicr  and 
fether,  leather  and  letlier,  villain  and  villan,  sluice  and  sluse,  crout  and  krout,  polype  and  pol- 
ypus, nuisance  and  nusance,  steady  and  steddy,  &c.  &c. ;  but  he  has  7iot  coupled  boosy  and 
bousy,  chemist  and  chimist.  chemisUy  and  clumistry,  bridegroom  and  bridegoom,  sovereign 
and  suveran,  gipsey  and  gypsey,  &.c.  &c. 

Sixtlily :  •  he  has,  in  his  text,  coupled  many  words  which  he  has  spelled  two  different 
ways  widi  one  first  in  its  alphabetical  arrangement,  and  in  another  piace  tlie  other  word 
fii-st,  agi-eeably  to  die  alphabetical  arrangement  of  that  word,  in  tliis  manner  alternately 
giving  each  word,  Uius  coupled,  a  preference,  by  placing  it  first !  Thus,  he  has  croop  and 
croup,  croup  and  croop  ;  boose  and  bouse,  bouse  and  boose,  &c.  &c. 

In  addition  to  tlie  preceding,  Mr.  Webster  has  spelled  many  words  in  three  different 
ways,  which  have  heretofore  been  spelled  in  one  way  only.  Thus,  he  has  height,  highth, 
hight ;  raindeer,  ranedeer,  reindeer ;  paroquet,  paroket,  perroquet,  &c.  &c.  AlUiough  Mr. 
Webster  has  spelled  so  many  v/ords  diflerently,  yet  he  lias  observed  under  the  word  cion,  that 
"  different  modes  of  spelling  the  same  word  are  very  inconvenient."  Still  he  has  five  times 
as  much  variable  and  contradictory  spelling  as  all  other  lexicographers ! ! 

Thus,  I  have,  in  six  prominent  particulars,  endeavoured  to  show  wherein  Mr.  Webster's 
dictionary  is  objectionable  as  a  "  Standard  of  orthography."  In  doing  this,  1  have  merely 
givtn  a  few  general  examples  of  each  class,  and  have  lett  it  with  the  critical  re<tder  to  ex- 
amine more  particularly  as  inclination  and  leisure  shall  dictate. 

I  will  now  take  notice  of  some  of  the  discrepances  in  the  ortliography  of  tlie  words  in  the 
text  and  definitions  of  Mr.  Webster's  Dictionary.  I  have  already  taken  notice  of  some  of  the 
discrepances  in  the  orthogi-aphy  of  Mr.  Webster's  definitions  and  text;  butdiose  were  words 
which  are  differently  spelled  in  the  text,  with  or  without  preference  being  given.  The  dis- 
crepances of  which  I  shall  now  take  notice  are  those  in  which  the  words  are  spelled,  in  the 
definitions,  differently  from  ihc  text  of  the  American  Dictionary.  Many  of  these  w^ords  are 
spelled,  in  the  definitions,  agi-eeably  to  the  text  of  Johnson,  W  allcer,  Jameson,  &c. ;  others 
agreeably  to  neither;  and  many  of  them  are  spelled  agreeably  to  Webster's  Spelling- Book^ 
conU'ary  to  his  dictumary  and  tliose  of  Johnson,  Walker,  6cc.  It  is,  unquestionably,  of  die 
greatest  importance  that  the  orthography  of  the  words  used  in  the  definitions  of  a  dictionary, 
should  agree  with  that  of  the  text,  as  dicse  who  use  the  dictionary  will  have  tliis  erroneous 
orthography  continually  before  them,  if  disagi-eeing  witli  the  text,  until  they  become  familiar 
with  It,  and  will  often  ni.ake  use  of  this  incorrect  orthography  in  spelling. 

That  Mr.  Webster  himself  considers  it  important  that  diere  should  be  an  agreement  in  tlie 
orthography  of  the  dcfiiiitions  and  text,  appears  evident  from  the  fact  that  he  has,  at  the  close 
of  tlic  American  Dictionary,  in  his  "  Corrections"  inscrtctl  a  note  in  wliich  he  has  shown 
that  Johnson  wrote  r/c.^^ft/cA  with  i,  instead  ofe,  in  his  definitions,  contraiy  to  his  text.— 
This  note  it  seems  should  have  been  inserted  in  the  introduction  where  he  lias  spoken  oi dis- 
patch ;  and,  it  is  tlius,  in  his  "  Corrections,"  introduced.  "  Under  dispatch,  in  tlie  introduc- 
tion, add;  Dr.  Johnson  himself  wrote  dispatch.  The  word  thus  written  occurs  twice  m  his 
dictionary  under  send,  and  five  times  under  speed,  and  Uiis  orthography  has  been  continued 
to  the  present  time.  It  has  been  transcribed  into  all  the  dictionaries  made  from  Johnson's, 
at  least  into  all  which  I  have  examined,  even  down  lo  Cluilmeis  mid  Jamcstin."  Yi-t  Mr. 
Webster  "himself"  not  only  spelled  the  word  despatch  wiUi  e  in  tJic  text  of  his  Urofornur 
dictionaries,  [sec  page  13]  precisely  as  Johnson  and  Walker  have  spelled  it,  but  he  actually 
had  the  worn  disjjutch -wxth.  i  under  the  saw*;  words  send  ax\d  speed,  conliiay  \.o\us  owti, 
text,  in  his  dictionary  published  in  1806.  and  also  under  the  words  expedience,  expedite,  and 
expeditiously  in  the  same  dictionary  !  He  lilcewise  spelled  dispatch  witli  i.  contrary  to  his 
text,  under  tlic  word  send,  in  his  dicticnuiry  published  m  1817  1 


t6  WEBSTER'S  aUARTO  DICTIONARY. 

^  In  this  the  American  Dictionary,  Mr.  Webster  has,  under  the  word  betrust  and  its  deriv- 
atives, spelled  entrust  with  e,  instead  of  i,  contrary  to  his  text,  six  times,  and  once 
in  his  preface !  Thus,  we  have  the  following  singular  coincideiice :  Johnson  made  use  of 
i  instead  of  e  in  despatch,  contrary  to  his  text,  '•  twice  under  send,  dindfive  times  under  speed  ;" 
and  Mr.  Webster  has  made  use  of  e  instead  of  i  in  intritst,  contrary  to  his  text,  six  times 
under  betrust,  and  once  in  his  preface — two  and^-ue  are  seven — six  and  one  are  seven  !! 

Perhaps  there  never  was  among  the  acts  of  any  author,  a  more  illiberal  and  ungenerous 
act  than  that  of  Mr.  Webster's  inserting  the  preceding  note  in  his  Dictionary,  relative  to  Dr. 
Johnson  and  the  word  despatch,  when  he  had  hiynself  covit.d  the  blunder  into  his  former 
dictionaries,  under  the  sane  words  ! ! 

From  the  preceding  note,  it  is  evident  that  Mr.  Webster  does  consider  it  of  importance, 
that  the  orthography  of  the  definitions  and  text  should  be  alike,  and  I  will,  therefore,  show 
that  Mr.  Webster  is  far  from  uniformity  and  consistency,  in  this  important  particular. 

Many  of  these  words  are  spelled  in  the  definitions  of  the  American  dictionary  as  they  have 
been  for  many  years  in  Webster's  spelling-book,  contrary  to  the  text  oi  all  Webster's  dic- 
tionaries ;  and,  also  contrary  to  the  text  of  Johnson,  Walker,  &c. 

He  has  achievment,  contrary  to  his  text  (achievement)  eighteen  times  under  tlie  following 
words;  fabulous,  gest,  glorious,  hatchment,  heroic,  labor,  merit,  might,  obelisk,  panegyric, 
'perform,  portray,  pride,  productive,  twice  under  renown,  rich  and  scald :  He  has  cholic,  con- 
trary to  his  text  (colic)  under  bias  :  He  has  cobler,  contrary  to  his  text  (cobbler)  Jive  times 
under  the  words  botcher,  last,  ride,  and  souter:  He  liAs  holiday,  contrary  to  his  text  (holy- 
day,  eight  times  under  the  words  calends,  even,  fair,  ferial,  three  times  under  feriation,  and 
highday :    He  has  briar,  contrary  to  his  text  (brier)  under  rose:  He  has  faggot,  contraiy  to 
his  text  (fagot)/i;e  times  under  tlie  words  bavin,  dunnage,  and  kid :  He  has  bason,  contrary 
to  his  text  (basin)  eight  times  under  the  words  font,  goldfish,  muller,  pelvis,  pool,  ro'cksait, 
Veservoir,  and  rim :  He  has  cyder,  contraiy  to  his  text  (cider) y^re  times  under  the  words  bot- 
tle, brandy,  brisk,  distill,  and  perkin :  He  has  chesnut,  contrary  to  his  text  (chestnut)  ten 
limes  under  the  words  bay,  beaver,  beech,  bur,  earthnut,  fieldfare,  mastful,  mate,  and  tannin : 
He  has  cyderkin,  contrary  to  his  text  (ciderkin)  under  perkin  and  juirre:  He  has  cypher, 
contrary  "to  hiu.  text  (cipher)  six  times  under  tlie  words  binary,  cryptograpiiy,  fraction,  key, 
'monogram,  and  round:  He  has  sheriff,  contrary  to  his  text  (sherif )  Jifty-ihree  times  under 
the  words  accountable,  advance,  admeasurement,  approver^  array,   breve,  calendar,   candi- 
date, cheriflr,  commit,  conservator,  constitute,  coroner,  county,  custody,  deputation,  depute  and 
its  derivatives,  discharge,  distringas,  elisor,  empannel,  escape,  esquire,  execution,  exigent, 
extend,  extent,  fee,  fierifaoias,  imprisonment,  informing,  inquest,  jail,  lawday,  landgrave,  liv- 
eryman, mainprize,  marshal,  nisiprius,  outlaw,  outrider,  oyes,  office,  palsgrave,  panel,  peace- 
bfficer,  and  pipe :  He  has  mizen,  contrary  to  his  text  (mizzen)   eighteen  times  under  tlie 
words  admiral,  aftersails,  bagpipe,  bark,  brail,  bumkin,  courses,  dogger,  driver,  flag,  friga- 
toon,  gaff,  galiot,  crossjack,   howker,  ketch,  and  ship :  He  has  plaintiff,  contrary  to  his  text 
(plaintif)  fifty-siz  times  under  the  words  account,  appellor,  avoid,  bail,  blank,  bar,  capias, 
champerty,  cognizance,  cognizee,  cognizor,  competent,  complainant,  compurgation,    cost, 
counsel,  vTossbill,  crossexamine,  day,  decide,  declare,  declaration,  default,  defense,  delay, 
demand,  ucmandanl,  demur,  elegit,  enjoin,  discontinuance,  find,  imparlance,  injunction,  lie, 
make,  merge,  nonability,  nonproficient,  nonsuit,  object,  objection,  and  party:  He  has  embit- 
ter, contrary  to   his  text  (imbitter)  fourteen  times  under  the  words  disquietude,  edge,  em- 
poison, envenom,  exasperate,  and  impoison :  He  has  hindrance,  contrary  to  his  text  (hin- 
derance)  ^even  times  under  tlie  words  arrest,  bar,   check,  counteraction,  cross,  forbidding, 
and  passport:  He  has  licence,  contrary  to  his  text  (license)  seven  times  under  the  words  cu- 
rate, effrenation,  fly,  imparl,  imparlance,  lirniter,  and  scurrilous :  He  has  abridgement,  cori- 
trar)'  to  his  text  (abridgment)  under  the  word  cote :  He  has  spelled  paroquet,  paroket,  and 
perrbquet,  three  different  v/ays  in  his  text ;  and,  imder  the  word  anaca,  he  has  spelled  it  par- 
(^keet,  and  under  lory  he  has  spelled  it  parroquet,6o^/i  contrary  to  all  three  of  the  M'ords  in  liis  text ! 
He  has  diarrhsea  ancl  diarrhoea,  both  contrary  to  his  text(diarrhea)under  the  words  lax,  looseness, 
cbeliac  and  colliquative  !  He  has  carcase,  contrary  to  his  text  (carca5s)mider  the  words  anhima, 
corps,  mortar,  and  quarter  :  He  has  liquorice,  contraiy  to  his  text  (licorice)  under  astragal  and 
ginseng :  He  has  asafcetida,  and  assafetida,  both  contrary  to  his  text  (asafetida)  under  bag  and 
gumresin  !  He  has  ribband  and  ribbon,  both  contrary  to  his  text(ribin)under  flare  and  pendent! 
He  has  sirrup  and  syrup,  both  contrary  to  his  text  (sirup)  under  the  words  capillaire,  consist- 
ency, eclegm,  hippocras,  arvd  lohock :  He  has  cameleon  and  chamelion,  both  contrary  to  his 
text  (chameleon)  under  knaci\'  .tnd  lizard  !  He  has  etherial,  contrary  to  his  text  (ethereal)7?z5e 
"  times  under  the  words  heaven,  quintessence,  skim,  same  and  region  :  He  has  sallad,  conti-a- 
ry  to  his  text  (salad)  under  the  words  bectradish  and  lenten :  He  has  serjeant,  conti-ary  to 
his  text  (sergeant)  under  the  words  advocate,  attorney,  counsel,  lawyer,  and  petit:  He  has 
merchandize,  contxaiy  to  his  text  (merchandise)  ci^/iiee?i  times  under  the  words  article,  book- 
keeping, broker,  buckram,  cargo,  chaffer,  cocket,  commodity,  curator,  custom,  emporium,  ex- 
port, exporter,  goods,  srros.'?,  guard,  innocency.  and  kidder:  He  has  enti-ust,  contrary  to  his 
text  (intrust)  Jifly-onc  times  under  the  v/ords  account,  address,  adjou.rn,  administration,  agen- 
cy, answer,  bail,  behight.  cash-keeper,  charge,  commend,  commission,  commit,  commitment, 
confide,  concrcdit.  confident,  confider,  counsel,  defaulter,  delegate,  demand,  depoaite,  eleemosy- 


WEBSTER'S  aUARTO  DICTIONARY.  17 

ry,  embezzle,  employ,  financier,  guardian,  intimate,  lovctale,  office,  paymaster,  peculate, 
peculation,    peculator,   privy-seal,  regency,    responsible,    and  sequestration ;  He  has   woe, 
contrary   to  his  text  (wo)   ten   times  under  the  words  deliver,  epoch,  eternize,  feel,  join, 
mockery,    mortal,   pineful,  pomp,   and    respond:      He  has  ensnare,  contrary  to  his  text 
(insnare)  tv-cnty-dx  times  under  the  words  b-^iiet,  captious,  captive,  catch,  deceit,  deceive, 
and  their  derivatives,  entoil,  entrap,  gudgeon,  haninsr,  hook,  illaqueate,  luck,  medh,  noose, 
pit,  and  take  :     He  has  caravansera,  contrary  to  his  text  (caravansary^  under  ammonia : 
He  has  entei-prize,  contrary  to  his  text  (enterprise)  ei;^kt  times  under  the  words  abandon, 
adventure  and  its  d.^rivatives,  advisedly,  chevisance,  expedition,  and  over:     He  has  tran- 
quility, contrary  to  his  text  (tranquillity)  luxlvc  tini-.;.s  under  the  words  composedness,  agi- 
tation, composure,  disquiet  and  its  derivatives,  halcyon,  and  under  quiet  and  its  derivatives : 
He  has  decypher,  contrary  to  his  text  (decipher)  under  the  words  blazoned  and  cipher :     He 
has  phrenzv,  co)itrary  to  his  text  (phrensy)  under  phrenitis :     He  has  bishoprick,  contrary  to 
his  text  (bishopric)  under  erection:   He  lias  hannnoclc,  contrary  to  his  text  (hammoc)  under 
netting:    He  has  courtezan,  contrary  to  his  text  (courtesan)  under  penitent:  He  has  highth- 
en  and  highten,  both  contrary  to  his  text  (heighten)  under  the  word  irritate,  twice  under 
enhance,  and  twice  under  exaggerate  I     He  has  plough,  contrary  to  his  text  (plow)  under 
new:     He  has  faulchion,  contrary  to  his  text  (falchion)  under  bite   and  saber:      He  has 
intreat,  contrary  to  his  text  (entreat)  under  the  v/ords  appetence,  deprecate,  and  obsecrate : 
He  has  Vermillion,  contrary  to  his  text  (vermilion)  under  the  v.'ords  miniate  and  minious: 
He  has  chuse,  coiUrary  to  his  text  (choose)  twice  under  tubitration  :     He  has   guaranteed, 
contrary  to  his  text  (guarantied)  under  peace :     He  has  cauldron,  contraiy  to  his  text  (cal- 
dron) under  enchant  and  flaw :     He  has  waggon,  coutraiy  to  his  text  (v/agon)  under  caisson 
and  matross :     He  has  woodchuck,  contrary  to  his  text  (woodchuk)  under  marmot:     He  has 
hazle,  contrary  to  his  text  (hazel)   under  catkin,   cobnut,  julus,  nut,   and  rod:      He  has 
enquire,  contrary  to  his  text  (inquire)  under  beseech,  character,  consulting,  consulted,  and 
nose:     He  has  also  enquiiy,  contrary  to  his  text  (inquiry)  under  arrive,  examen,  consult, 
and  curious :     He  has  maize,  contrary  to  his  text  (maiz)  "under  articulation,  breadcorn,  cop, 
and  broomc^rn:     He  has  reverie,  contrary  to  his  text(revciy)  once  under  dump,  and  three 
times  under  disentrance:     He  has  intreaty,  contrary  to  his  text  (entreaty)  under  depreca- 
tion, flexible,  and  obsecration:     He  has  gilliflovver,  contraiy  to  his  text  (gillyflower)  under 
carnation,  caryphylloid,  lay.  and  damcwort :     He  has  spinnet,  contrary  to  his  text  (spinet) 
twice  under  manichord :     He  has  spiggot,  contrary  to  his  text  (spigot)  under  faucet :     He 
has  crumb,  contrary  to  his  text  (crum)  under  particle:    He  has  neighbour,  contrary  to  his 
text  (neigh])or)  under  recess  :     He  has  flageolet,  contrary  to  his  text  (flagelet)  under  recor- 
der:    He  has  tambour,  contrary  to  his  text  (tambor)  under  morrice:      He  has   peimyless, 
contrary  to  his  text  (penniless)  under  less :    He  has  vertebrae,  contrary  to  liis  text  (verieber) 
under  loin  and  neck :     He  has  girroc,  contrary  to  his  text  (girrock)  under  lacertus :      He 
has  critick,   contrary  to  his   text  (critic)  under  persuade  :      He  has  antick,   contrary  to 
his  text  (antic)   under   mummer:      He    has   fibre,    coaitrary   to   his    text   (fiber)     under 
fibrolite    and     peristaltic  :       He    has    avoirdnpoise,    contrary   to    his    text    (avondupois) 
under  bahar  and   decagram:      He  has  centiuL-l,  contrary   to   his   text   (sentinel)   under 
garret :     He  lias  pontiff!  contraiy  to  his  text  (pontif )  under  asiarch,  lama,  and  papal :     He 
has  raccoon,  contrary  to  his  text  (racoon)  under  coati :      He  has  burthen,  contraiy  to  his 
text  (burden)  seven  times  under  barge,  bus.s,  cat,  coaster,  condition,  and  tunnage:     He  has 
balluster,  contrary  to  his  text  (baluster)  under  nave,  and  twice  under  rail:     He  has  ballus- 
trade,  contrary  to  his  text  (balustrade)  under  rail  aixl  sanetHary :     He  has  jiavor,  contrai  y  to 
his  text  (havock)  under  fray  :     He  lias  engraft,  conti-aiy  to  his  text  (ingraft.) /re  times  under 
applegraft,  cicftgraft,  receive,  and  imp:     He  has  pretence,  contraiy  to  his  text  (pretense) 
under  belie,  government,  hypocrisy,  and  maroon:     He  has  preterite,  contrary  to  his  text 
(preterit)  under  arose,  ate,  and  conge:     He  has  benefitted,  contraiy  to  his  text  (benefited) 
under  advantaged :     He  has  analyse,  contrary  to  his  text  (analyze)  under  hedenbergite  and 
reviewed:     He  has  anglicise,  contrary  to  his  text  (anglicize)  under  bivouac  and  reveille: 
He  has  gamut,  contrary  to  his  text  (garnmut)  under  scale  and  the  letter  F:     He  has  enwrap, 
contrary  to  his  text  (inwrap)  six  times  under  circumplication,  intrigue,  infold,  roU,  and 
whipped:     He  has  sadler,  contrary  to  his  text  (saddler)  under  the  words  artificer  and  awl- 
He  has  partizan,  contrary  to  his  text  (partisan) /<-/«r  times  under  contention  and  Jacobite! 
He  has  cimltar,  coiitrary  to  his  text  (cimiter)  under  saber:      He  has  pedlar,  contrary  to  his 
text  (pedler)  four  times  under  hawker,  piepoudre  and  huckster:     He  has  gypsey,  contrary 
to  his  text  (gipsey)  four  times  under  bind,  cymbtil,  deitv,  and  dent:     He  has  halbert,  con- 
trary to  his  text  (halberd) /Aret- times  under 'fieldstaft;  ^\i\\Y,   and   sergeant:      He  has  ton, 
contrary  to  his  text  (tun) y?7;e  times  under  caravel,  freight,  and   prisagc  :     He  has  sulkey, 
contrary  to  his  text  (sulky)  under  carriage:     He  has  casque,  <:ontraiy  to  his  text  (cask) 
undor  harness  and  armor :      He  has  batoon  and  baton  in  the  text,  but  under  tlie  wpfd  scarp 
he  has  battoon,  contrary  to  both  of  them!     He  has  superintcndanco,  contrary  to  his  text 
(superintendence)  under  chancellor,  consignee,  and  seneschal :     He  has  tafiet>^  contrary  to 
his   text  (taff"eta)    under    aridas    and   fair:       He    has   embosom,   contrary   to    his  text 
(imbosom)  under  imposing  and  isle:     He  has  empannel,  contrary  to  his-lext  (rnipaianei;) 
three  times  under  petit  and  jury  :     He  has  lii'lor,  conirory  to  his  text  (ttpTlf-r)  under  drinker 

6 


18  WEBSTER'S  aUARTO  DICTIONARY. 

and  drinkinghousc :     He  has  also  lipUug,  contrary  to  iiis  text  (tippling)  imder  alehouse; 
He  has  tatling,  contrary  to  his  text  (taiiiin^)  under  tuiile  and  garrulity :     He  luiz  also  taller, 
contrary  to  his  text  (tattler)  under  blow :     Hs.  has  turnip,  contrary  to  his  text  (lurnep)  under 
rape  :    'He  has  stupify,  contrary  to  liis  text  (sLupcly)  under  doze,  drunk,  dull,  and  fox  :     He 
has  frc-lic,  contrary  to  his  text  (irolick)  under  ape  and  curvet:     He  has  slyiy,   contrary  to 
his  text  (blily)  under  closely,  peep,  and  subtly :     Hs  has  clue,  contrary  to  his  te.xt  (clew) 
under  goosewing:     He  has  dependant,  contrary  to  his   text  (dependent) /oiir  times  under 
hangeron,  retainer,  and  satellite :     He  has  headachcj   contrary  to  his   text  (headach)  Jive 
times  under  complain,  for,  and  cephalic :     He  has  saviour,contrary  to  his  text  (s>avior)  under 
scene:     He  has  fulness,  contrary   to  his  text  (fullness)   mider  blissfulness,   branchiness, 
buffel,  and  complement:     Ho  has  dulness,  contraiy  to  his  text  (dullness)  under  amblyopy 
and  constitutional :     He  has  respite,  contrary  to  his  text  (respit)  under  act  and  breath  :    He 
has  unskilful,  contrary  to  his  text  (unskiilfu!)  under  artless  and  bad :     He  has  unc;kilfully, 
contrary  to  his  text  (unskillfully)>ye  times  under  badly,  botch,  botched,  ignorant,  and  igno- 
"rantly !     He  has  musrol,  under  bit,  and   mussroll  under  niartingal,  both  contrary  to  his 
text  (^musrole)  !     He  has  parsnip,  contrary  to  his  text  (parsuep)  under  caraway  :     He  has 
fm-ze,  contrary   to  his  text  (furz)  under  crake  and  kid:     He  has  fulfil,  contrary  to  his  text 
(fulfill)  eZci-e /I  times — once  under   each  of  the   words  accomplish,  complete,  compliment, 
defaulting,  eifectuatc,  engagement,  and  four  times  under  comply !     He  has  traveller,  contrary 
to  his  text  (traveler)  under  caravan  :     H^iias  worshipping,  contrary  to  his  text  (worship- 
ing) imder  fornication:      He  lias  worshipper,  contrary  to  his  text  (v/orshiper)  under  gen- 
tile:    He  has  whiskey,  contrary  to  his  text  (whisky) 'under  spirit:      Ho   has  wilfulness,- 
contrary  to  his  text  (willfulness)  unde-rfann:      He  has   skilfulness,   contrary  to  his  text 
(skillfulness)  under  featness :     He  has  v.'orshipped,  contrary  to  his  text  (worshiped)  five 
times  under  abracadabra,  achor,  adored,  feticisni,  and  profess :      He  has  wilfully,  contrary 
to  his  text  (willfully)  under  contumacious  and  prevaricate  :     He  has  duellist,  conuary  to  his 
text  (duelist)  under  bravt-^-y  and  combatant:     He  has  revelling,  contrary  to  his  text  (revel- 
ing) Jour  times — once  under  carouse,  and  three  times  under  bacchanalian  I   He  has  dialling, 
conu-ary  to  his  text  (diixYing)  fov.r  times — once  under  each  of  the  woi'ds  declinator  and  horo- 
loge, and  twice  under  gnomonics  !     He  has  wilful,  contrary  to  his  text  (willful)  three  times 
under  barratry,  contumacy,  and  guilt:     He  has  thresh,  ccr.trary  to  his  text  (tJn-ash)  four 
times  under  beat,  grant,  pile,  and  stover:  He  has  tvavclling,  contrary  to  his  text  (traveling) 
SIX  times  under  cnxulatoricus,  coach,  fancy,  far,  forge,  gest:     Ho  has  fulfilment,  contrary 
to  his  text  (fulfillment)/oiir  times  under  bre'ach,  break,  compliment,  and  exjiletion :     He  has 
skilfully, contrary  tolas  text  (skillfully)  y^ye times  under  artfully,  dcfly,  dextrously,  discern- 
ingly, and  fencing :     He  has  skilful,  contrary  to  ius  text  (skillful)  lv:cnty-sezen  times— 
once  under  each  oi' the  words  adroit,  adroitly,  agriculturist,  artist,  connoisscar,  cope,  dancer, 
deftly,  distance,  exercised,  experienced,  expert,  e.^pertly,  express,  feat,  fierceness,  lin(],man- 
agei-,  please,  and  twice  under  each  of  the  words  clever,  con,  cunning,  and  dextrous  !  &.c.  &c. 
When  I  commenced  tlie  exposition  of  the  discrepances  in  the  orihography  of  the  defini- 
tions and  text  in  the  American  Dictionary,  I  intended  to  shov  «'^  which  1  had  discovered; 
but  they  are  so  numerous  that  the  limits  of  this  review  v/ill  not  permit  mc  to  pursue  the  ex- 
position farther.     I  have  already  shown  between  scren  and  cighl  hundred  dircropances  of 
tills  kind,  and  have  noted  kxhowljive  Mindred  ethers.     Enough  has  been  given,  it  is  believed, 
however,  to  convince  the  reader  of  the  evident  Vv'ant  of  uniformity  and  consistency  in  the 
orthography  of  the  definitions  and  text.     The  candid  reader  can  readily  judge  whetlier  it  is 
justifiable  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Webster  to  ce^isure  or  ccndcrun  Johnsons  "discrepances  in  his 
definitions  and  text,  when  he  has  more  than  iicelve  hundred  in  his  own  dictionary,  some  of 
which  are  evidenUy  copied  from  Johnson's  dictionary,  for  they  appear  under  the  same  words 
in  both  dictionaries  !  [See  pages  13,  15, 16,  and  17.]    tiaving  thus  pointed  out  some  of  tlie  most 
prominent  defects,  inconsistencies,  and  contradictions  in  the  American  Dictionary,  which 
are  mu-di  more  numerous  than  in  any  other  dictionary,  I  will  novvr  sliow,  tluxt  tlie  "  innova- 
tions and  anomalies"  introduced  by  Mr.  Webster  in  his  sevcnd  books,  have  done  more  to  in- 
troduce irregularity  in  orthography,  than  all  of  the  other  works  published  in  this  country  and 
in  England  within  fifty  years,  even  if  we  take  his  American  Dictionary  for  the  "  Standard." 
1  will  ako  show  that  nearly  all  of  the  errours  in  spelling  which  now  appear  on  almost  every 
page  of  the  best  written  books  and  periodical  publications,  and  in  nearly  cvei-y  column  of 
our  newspapers,  have  been  introduced  and  kept  m  use  through  tlie  medium  of  his  Spelling- 
Book  and  former  dictionaries,  tlie  orthography  of  which  is  now  rejected  by  him  in  his 
American  Dictionary ! 

First:  he  spelled  a  great  many  words  in  the  qiolling  lessons  of  his  Spelling-Book,  con- 
trary to  the  text  of  all7tis  dictionaries,  and  that  of  Johnson  and  Walker;  and,  this  contra- 
dictory orthography  has  been  continued  in  his  SpcUing-Book  and  dictionary  more  llian 
twenty  /cars  !  ! 

Thus,  encle,  achievment,  boult,  bass,  (a  long,)  biggen,  chace,  calimanco,  chalibeate, 
cholic,  cleiicli,  cobler,  doat,  epaulette,  enthral,  ctherial,  faggot,  frolic,  fellon,  grey,  goslin, 
hindrance,  hai'.oc,  impale,  jocky,  laste,  laquey,  negociate,  noggcn,  phrenzy,  paroxism, 
rince,  sadler,  salhd,  staunch,  streight,  seignor,  slioar,  taUer,  thresh^  &.c.  &c.,  instead  of  ankle, 
achievement,  boh.,  v»ase,  bigirin.  chase,  calamanco.  rJialybeate,  colic,  clinch,  cobbler.  dot«, 


V/EB3TEil'S   aUARTO  DICTIONARY.  19 

epa'Alct,  iiiihral,  cllioreal,  fagot,  fvolick,  fjlon,  gray,  gosling,  hinderance,  halloo,  empale, 
jockey,  last,  laclc^y,  n^gotiato,  noggin,  pliransy,  paroxysm,  rinse,  sa-lJlcr,  salad,  stanch, 
straigh*:,  ssignior,  shore,  tatder,  thrash,  &c.  &c. 

Th3  first  and  hicorrect  spelling  of  dioso  v/oi'd^  above  noted,  will  not  only  be  found  in  our 
best  publications  and  newspapers  of  thi  pv3sen:.  day,  but  vo  great  has  b?'^n  iho  influence  of 
ths  incorrect  orthography  of  tlieso  words,  that  not  1  :•.=;,  \\v.\\\  In  or  fifce^n  avJhors  of  Spelling- 
Books,  compiled  sines  Webster's,  iu  thus  country,  have  c'jii'd  most  of  th^sc  erruur.'i  from 
Mr.  Webster's  Spelling-Book  !  and  even  M-.-.  Webster  "  kluiself^  has  spelled  nearly  all  of 
theso  word^  in  this  en^oneous  manner  in  the  dsfiaitions  of  tho  American  Dictionary ! !  [See 
pages  18,  17,  and  18,  of  this  Roview.] 

Secondly:  h?.  has  spelled  many  words  in  his  dictionary,- published  in  180(1,  contrary  to  his 
Spslling-Book,  and  also  contrary  to  his  dictionary  published  in  1817:  thus,  abridgment, 
buccan-^M-.  callico,  doctrin,  dctermin,  enterprise,  examin,  havock,  medicin,  opposit,  perquisit, 
reqaisit,  &.c.  &c. 

Thirdly:  he  has  .s-pelled  many  words  in  his  dictionary  published  in  1817,  contrary  to  hir 
Spelling-Book,  and  also  contrary  to  his  dictionary  published  in  180G  :  thus,  aidecamp,  bucair 
neer,  enrollment,  pnumaiics,  .sepulchre,  tennon,  woolen,  &c.  &c. 

Fourtldy:  in  his  dictionar\'  published  in  1817,  he  changed  the  orthography  of  many 
words,  which,  in  the  dictionaiy  of  1805,  v.'cre  contrary  to  his  SpelUng-Book,  and  conformed 
them  to  the  orthography  of  his  Sp-lling-Book,  in  accordance  with  th?  dictionaries  of  Johnson 
and  Walker:  thus,  apposite,  blameable,  calico,  determine,  doctrine,  examine,  medicine,  op- 
posite, perquisite,  requisite,  &c.  &c. 

Fifthly  :  he  spelled  many  words  in  both  his  former  dictionaries  conlrar]i  to  his  Spelllng- 
Book,  which  he  has  noio  spelled,  in  the  American  Dictionary,  agreeably  to  his  former 
Spelling-Book,  and  in  accordance  with  the  orthography  of  Johnson  and  Walker!  thus, 
apostrophe,  avoirdupois,  bombasin,  catastrophe,  miagine,  libertine,  mackerel,  quadrille, 
quarantine,  radish,  &.c.  &.c. 

Sixthly :  he  has  now,  in  the  American  Dictionaiy,  spoiled  many  words  agreeably  to  John- 
son and  Walker,  but  which  were  spelled  difTerently  from  llic-m  in  both  his  former  dictionaries 
and  Spelling-Book,  v/hereby  an  orthography  has  for  many  years  been  tar,ght  tlirough  the 
medium  of  those  books,  which  he  Jiow  acknowledges  to  have  been  erroneous,  by  adopting 
the  orthography  of  Johnson  and  Walker  in  these  v/ord?:  thus,  bucanier,  diphthong,  guaran- 
ty, (verb!)  merchandise,  potato,  raillery,  triphthong,  &e.  Ccc. 

Seventhly:  he  has  introduced  many  "innovations"  in  the  American  Dictionary'',  whicli 
he  has  not  "  reduced  to  uniformity,"  and  has,  therefore,  increased,  rather  than  div'iinished. 
the  "  anomalies"  in  our  language.  [See  pages  7,  8,  9,  10,  and  11;  see  also  pages,  47,  4a 
49,  &c.] 

Thus  I  have  endeavoured  to  examine  the  American  Dictionary  fairly  and  candidly,  ano 
to  compare  it  with  the  dictionaries  of  Johnson,  Walker,  Jameson,  Todd,  and  others,  and  1 
resjet  the  conclusion,  that  it  is  more  erroneous,  less  uniform  and  consistent,  tlian  any  one 
of  them,  and,  if  adopted  as  "  A  Standari!,"  must  lay  thefoundation  of  more  numerous  con- 
tradictions and  "  anomalies'''  than  at  present  exist  in  the  language.  And  here  I  could  wish 
that  I  did  not  feel  myself  bound  to  animadvert  v.pon  what  I  deem  illiberality  on  the  part  of  the 
author  of  the  American  Dictionary  towards  former  lexicographers,  most  of  whom  are  now 
"  beyond  the  reach,  and  out  of  hearin^of  liis  complaints,"  and.  therefore,  unable  to  answer 
him.  If  the  author  of  the  American  Dictionary,  who  has  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  tJieir 
publications,  has  more  contradictions,  i^iconsistcncics,  and  ananalies,  than  lliey  Jiave,  and 
more  than  tv:elve  hundred  dis!cre])anoe3  in  his  t.?xt  and  definitions,  surely  chaVity  should 
have  induced  him  to  throw  a  uianlle  over  half  of  that  number  in  tlie  earlier  works  "of  Joiui- 
son,  Walker,  and  others.  If  ho  can  claim  to  be  ju-stificd  in  violating  his  ov:n  rules  and 
principks  in  the  ^reat  number  of  instances  shov/n  in  tliis  review,  surely  other  lexicographers 
may  claim  commiseration  for  minor  "  »nomali'^s"  and  less  important  "  contradictions."  If 
the"real  object  of  the  author  of  the  American  Dictionary  was  '■'  to  purify  the  language  from 
palpable  errors,  and  reduce  the  number  of  its  anomalies-,  to  rescue  it  from  the  niischievous 
mfluence  of  sciolists,  and  that  dabblinsr  spirit  of  innovation  v/hich  is  perpetually  disturbingita 
setded  usages;"  it  is  difiicult  to  conceive  upon  v/hat  princi])le-?  he  can  justify  the  number  of 
INNOVATIONS,  CONTRADICTIONS,  and  ANOMALIES,  v.utli  which  his  work  abounds. 


REVIEW 


WEBSTERS    OCTAVO    DICTIONARY. 


[The  copy,  quoted  in  this  Review,  bears  date  1831.] 

SuESEauENT  to  the  publication  of  the  "  duarto  American  Dictionary,"  Mr.  Webster  in- 
formed the  publick  (through  the  medium  of  the  New  York  Evening  Post,  May  28,  1829,) 
that  an  abridgment  of  this  quarto,  in  an  octavo  form,  would  soon  hz  published,  v/hich  would 
"comprise  all  the  words  in  the  quarto,  with  some  additions,  and  with  the  chief  etymologies 
and  full  definitions."  From  this  advertisement,  we  might  reasonably  infer  that  the  orliiog- 
raphy  in  the  quarto  and  in  tlie  octavo,  agree  in  the  text  if  not  in  the  dcJlnitio7is.  I  have  com- 
pared all  the  contradictions,  inconsistencies,  and  anomalies,  which  I  have  pointed  out  as 
contained  in  the  quarto,  with  the  octavo  abridgment ;  and  1  will  now  show  tlie  result  of  that 
comparison.  This  exposition,  it  is  presumed,  v/ill- be  considered  proper  and  fair;  for,  al- 
though it  is  stated  in  the  prefoce  to  the  octavo  abri<igment,  that  "  as  ilic  author  of  the  origi- 
njil  work  has  inti-usted  the  superintendence  of  the  Abridgment  to  another  person,  he  is  not  to 
be  considered  as  responsible  for  any  of  the  modifications  already  aiiudn;d  to.  The  quarto  edi- 
tion will,  of  course,  be  considered  as  presenthig  his  exact  views  of  tlie  ])roper  arrangement 
and  exhibition  of  words  in  respect  to  their  orthograjjhy  and  pronunciation ;"  yet  it  is  be- 
lieved that  he  (Mr.  Webster)  is  and  should  be  responsible  tor  llie  correcuiess  or  incorrect- 
ness of  the  orthograpky  in  th^  octavo,  inasmuch  as  it  is  titled  v/ith  his  name,  and  not  Worces- 
ter's, and  is  given  to  th:;  pviblick  und-dv  his  authority  only,  the  name  of  Mr.  Worcester  not 
appearing  on  the  titlepage,  or  at  the  end  of  the  preftice.  1  sliail,  therefore,  consider  the  octa- 
vo Webster's,  and,  with  this  opinion,  shall  proceed  to  point  out  the  variations  in  orthography 
from  the  quarto,  made  in  the  octavo — that  a  part  of  the  orthography  objected  to  in  ths  prece- 
ding review  has  been  changed  in  the  text  of  the  octavo,  agreeably  to  the  orthography  of 
Johnson  and  Walker — that  nearly  all  the  contradictions  and  inconsistencies  in  the  orthog- 
raphy of  the  text  still  rcviain  in  the  octavo;  and.  1  will  also  show  in  v^hat  ma)mer  and 
wherein  many  of  the  discrepances  in  the  text  and  definitions  of  the  quarto,  "  are  corrected"  in 
the  octavo,  viz.  by  changing  tlie  orthography  in  the  text  of  the  octavo,  and  making  it  agree- 
able to  the  orthograjjhy  of  Walker  !  The  other  discrepances,  with  few  excejjtions,  ronain 
as  in  the  quarto.  The  inconsistencies  and  confradiclions  in  the  orthography  of  tlie  class 
of  words  which  end  in  ck,  pointed  out  on  pages  7  and  fci,  remain  the  same  in  the  octavo,  ex- 
cept tlie  following  which  are  contradictory  :  thus, 

Quarto.  Octavo.  Quarto.  Octavo. 

Almanack,  Almanac, 

Hemlock,  Hcmloc, 

Mattock,     .  Mattoc, 

The  following  inconsistency  in  the  quarto,  j^ointed  out  on  page  8,  is  retained  in  the  octa- 
TO.  He  has  spelled  mimic,  when  a  noun,  witiiout  k,  and  with  it  Vvlien  a  verb;  yet,  he  has 
made  no  such  distinction  m  the  words  frolick  and  traffick,  having  spelled  them  with  k  in 
both  cases. 

The  class  of  words  which  usually  end  in  re,  Mr.  Webster  spelled  in  the  quarto  v/itli  cr,  as 
stated  on  page  9 ;  dius  accouter,  center,  maneuver^  (5:0.  and  their  derivatives ;  and  these 
words  were  thus  spelled  in  the  definitions  in  thequa?to:  but  we  find  these  words  and  their 
derivatives  changed  in  the  octavo  agreeable  to  Walkei,  and  also  in  the  definitions,  although 
Mr.  Webster  has  strongly  conderaned  this  termination  re,  in  the  introduction  to  Uie  quarto  ! 

Mr.  Webster  remarks,  "  in  the  present  instance,  M-ant  of  unifoniiity  is  not  tlie  only  evil. 

The  present  ortliography  has  introduced  an  awkwaid  mode  of  wiitin^'J-  the  derivatives  for 
example,  centred,  sceptred,  sepulchred^  Yet,  we  find  these  words  and  their  derivatives  spell- 
ed re  in  the  octavo  in  the  text  and  definitions,  agreeably  to  Walkrr  and  Johnson,  ccnirary  to 
the  principle  above  quoted  which  is  contained  m  llic  ([uarto  I     Thus  they  appear  in  the  two 


Hattock,  Hat  toe. 

Hillock,  Hilloc, 

Almanack-maker.  Almanac-maker. 


dictionari 

Quorto.  Orfavo. 

Acrouter,  Acc^.v.:\■:■.      } 

An-,.u;.r:      ] 
Accoutfring,  AcctHar.iig, 

Accoutered,  Accoutreti, 

Accouterments,  Accoutrements, 

Amphitheater,  Amphitheatre, 

Amphitheater, 


Quarto.  Octavo. 

Cl\.,^v,  Centre,    ) 

Centrr,    \ 
*-'iit^ri}ig,  Ci!i;i:i:g, 

Ctntcrcd,  Centrtd, 

Concenter,  Concentre,    ) 

Concenter,    i 
Concentering,  Concentring, 


WEBSTER'S  CKTAVO  DICTIONARY 


21 


Quarto. 
Concentered, 
Fiber, 

Luster, 


Octavo. 
Concentred, 
Fibre,    J 
Fiber,    ) 
Lustre,     i 
Luster,     S 
Maneuver,(7j.  and  v.)  Manceuvre,  (7i.) 
Maneuver, 
Manoiuvre,  (v.) 
Maneuvering,  Manojuvrin;^, 

Maneuvered,  Manoeuvred, 

Meter,  Metre, 

Miter,  (n.  and  v.) 


Mitered, 
Niter, 


Ocher, 

Ocherous, 
Scepter, 


Q,uartii. 
I  Sceptered, 
Sepulcher,  (? 


Sepulchcring, 

Sepulchercd, 

Specter, 

Verteber, 

Omber,    ) 

Ombre,    ) 

Peter. 

Petre! 

Saber,    ') 

Sabre,    J 

Saber,  (v.) 

Sal 

S 

Theater 

Theatre 

Massaccr,  }  ^ 

Massacre,  )  ^ 


e,  (n.)  J 
e,  (V.)  ) 


\ 


Saltpeter,    > 
Salti^stre,     ) 


Odavo. 
Sceptred, 
and  V.)  Sepulchre,  (re.) 
Sepulcher, 
Sepulchre, 
Sepulchring: 
Sepulchred, 
Spectre,      } 
Specter,     i 
Vertebra,     } 
Vcrtsber,     J 
Ombre,    > 
Omber,    y 
Petre,    i 
Peter,    I 
Sabre,   # 
Saber,  ^ 
Sabre,  (v."} 


&7^.) 


Saltpetre, 
Saltpeter,  ) 
Theatre,  ) 
Theater,  ^ 
Massacre,  i 
Massacer,  J 
Massacre,    n. 

Thus  we  see  that  in  tJie  octavo  the  termination  re  is  preferred  in  all  cases  in  the  class  of 
words  above  given,  except  in  reconnoiter,  reconnoitermg,  and  recormoitcred  which  he  has 
epelled  cr,  contrary  to  all  of  the  others  in  the  text  of  the  octavo  ! ;  nnd,  that  cr  is  preferred  in 
all  cases  in  the  quarto  !  and  the  re  is  given  in  all  cases  in  the  defirniions  in  the  octavo,  but 
er  in  the  quarto,  as  center,  lu.'./er,  &c.  centre,  lustre,  &c.  so  that  tliere  are  hundreds  of  con- 
tradictinns  in  the  orthography  of  this  class  of  words  in  the  definitions  of  the  quarto  and  octa- 
vo !  Tills  class  of  words  forms  one  of  the  most  prominent  distinctions  betv/een  tlie  orthogra- 
phy of  Mr.  Walker  and  Webster,  and  it  is  one  for  which  Mr.  Webster  and  tlie  friends  of  the 
quarto  claim  as  much  as  for  that  of  any  other  pretended  improvement  in  the  orthogi  aphy  of 
the  American  Dictionary;  and,  Mr.  Webster  \\a.s  condevined  the  orthography  of  the  termi- 
nation re  (both  in  the  quarto  and  in  his  dictionary  published  in  ISCG)  more  !;trongIy  than 
that  of  any  other  class  of  word-s  in  which  he  disagrees  with  Johnson  and  Walker  f  The 
contradictions  between  the  quarto  and  octavo  in  this  class  of  words  alone,  (in  the  tc:rt  and 
definitions,)  amount  to  more  \ho.nall  the  contradiction:^  contained  in  the  whole  of  Johnson's 
Dictionaiy ! 

The  class  of  words  which  usually  end  in  j^,  Mr.  Webster,  in  die  quarto,  spelled  generally 
with  single/,  in  the  dissyllables  and  trisyllables,  either  in  liis  text  or  in  the  '^  correct ion^^ 
at  the  close  of  his  dictionnry  ;  and,  he  gave  the  single  f  the  preference  ;  but,  in  the  octavo  he 
has  spelled  these  words  differently  and  has  preferred  the  Jf,  both  in  the  text  and  definitions  ! 
Thus,  the  discrepances  in  the  orthography  of  the  text  and  definitions  in  this  class  of  words 
contained  in  the  quarto,  pointed  out  on  page  10,  "  are  corrected  in  the  octavo."  The  words  of 
this  class  are  changed  in  the  text  agreeably  to  Walker,  consequently  these  words  agree  witJi 
the  definitions  in  the  octavo  !  These  words  are  spelled  in  the  manner  following,  in  the  oo 
tavo  and  quarto :  thus — 


Quarto.  Octavo. 

BaiWff  (text)  Bailiff 

BailiffcoRRRCTiONs)  Bailif 


Caitiff  (text) 
Cah'if  (cor.) 
Dandruff(/<?.r/) 
Dandruf  (co'-.) 
Mastiff  (/e.r^) 
Mastif  (cor.) 

Plaintif 

Pontif 

ArchpontifF 

Rcstif(«.) 

Restifness 

Restif  (a.) 


Caitiff) 
Caitif  i 

Dandruff 

Mastiff) 
Mast  if  S 
Plaintiff) 
Plaintif  i 
Pontirt) 
Pontif  { 
ArcliponlilT 
Restiir(/i.) 
RestifTiicss 
Restiff)  ,    . 
Restif  I  (''•) 


Quarto. 
Shcrif 

Dcputysheriff 

BoundbailifF 

Bumbailiff 

Undcrsherif 

DistafT 

Hipjiogriff 

Midriff 

Cliff(^;./0 

Clif(a.;-.) 

Distatrtliistle 

Tarif(n.  &  v.) 
Sherifalty 


Octavo. 
Sheriff) 
Sherif  $ 
Dcputysheriff 
Dcputysherif 
Bnun(lbailiff 
Bumbailiff 
Undovsherift 
Distaff 
HippoCTiflT 
MidrilT 

Cliff 

DistafftliisUe 
Tariff),     . 
Tarif  \  (^O 
Tariff  (r.) 
Sheriffalty 


J2  WEBSTER'S  OCTAVO  DICTIO?vARY. 

Quarto.  Octavo.  I  Quarto.  Octavo. 

Sherifdom  Sherift'dom  Sherit'wick  Sheriffwick 

Sherifship  Sheriflship  j    Undersherifry  Undersheriffry. 

From  an  examination  of  the  orthography  of  the  preceding  class  of  words,  we  shall  discov- 
er that  the  termination  ff  is  preferred  ni  every  instance  in  the  octavo,  both  in  the  text  and 
definitions ;  and,  that  their  orthography  is  contradictory  in  the  quarto,  although  si ?/^Z<?/ is 
preferred  in  that  dictionary  1     [See  page  10.] 

The  contradictory  manner  in  which  the  words  that  end  with  ance,  anse,  and  cnsc,  in  tlie 
quarto,  pointed  out  on  page  19,  remains  the  savie  in  tlie  octavo,  except  entrance. 

In  tlie  orthography  of  the  words  which  end  with  c/t  or  che,  pointed  out  as  contradictory 
in  tlie  quarto,  on  page  10,  a  number  of  variations  has  been  made  in  the  octavo;  thus, 

QvMrto. 
Ache  ) 
Ake   5 

Aching 
Akine: 


s  i 


Octavo. 

Qiiarto. 

Octavo. 

Ache  ) 
Ake   5 
Aching  ) 
Akmg   5 

Unaking 
Boneache 
Headach 
Heartach 

Unaching 
Boneache 
Headache 
Heartache 

In  defining  ake,  he  has  tootha^T  with  k,  contrary  to  liis  text,  iooHiachc,  as  in  the  quarto  I 
The  contradictions  and  incoiisistencies  in  the  orthography  of  the  class  of  words  which 
end  in  I  or  II,  pointed  out  on  page  11,  reviain  the  same  m  the  octavo  in  the  text  ;  but,  a  few 
corrections  have  been  made  in  the  definitions,  under  the  words  baggage,  abetting,  accom- 
plishment, bilk,  find-fault,  drivel,  and  abracadabra.  Nearly  all  of  the  other  contradictions 
pointed  out  on  page  12,  remain  in  the  octavo,  as  vizard  with  z,  unvisard  with  s,  &c. 

The  innovations  and  inconsistencies  pointed  out  on  page  12,  remain  in  the  octavo,  except 
the  follow  iiiff ;  thus — 


Qvarto.  Octavo. 

Etherialize    )  ^^j^^.-.^^,  Etherealize    ) 
Ethenalized  i  Ethererilized  { 

AUe-reable  Allcdvreable 


Quarto.  Octavo. 

Allegeme^^t  AUedgement 

Thunuiiig  Tliumbring 

Thumstali  Thmnbstall 


He  has  gimMet  with  b  in  the  definition  of  llie  word  bore,  in  the  octavo. 

It  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  page  13,  that  I  pointed  out  several  rules  ar.d  principles  wliich 
a  "  Standard  of  Orthography"  should  possess  in  an  eminent  degree  ;  and  en  tiiat  page  particu- 
larly specified  wherein  the  quarto  is  objectionable,  as  iha  sa7ne  words  are  differt'iuly  spelkd 
in  die  text  and  in  the  definitions,  and  that  there  is  want  of  decision  iu  this  particular  which 
is  a  paramount  objection  to  the  adcpticn  of  any  dictionary  as  a  "Standard    of  Ortkog- 

RAPHY," 

The  objections  px-eferred  against  the  orthography  of  the  quarto  are  thus  given  on  page  13: 
First — he  has  spelled  many  words  in  two  different  ways  witjiout  having  given  a  prtfeience, 
each  of  which  he  has  defined  precisely  or  nearly  alike,  and  these  words  have  been  spelled 
h\x\.  one  way  in  his _/crwcr  dictionaries,  and  in  the  dictionaries  of  Johnson,  Walker,  &c. : 
Secondly — he  has,  in  using  the  words  thus  differently  spelled  in  his  text,  in  defining  other 
words,  spelled  them  sometimes  wlili  one  orthography,  and  sometimes  with  the  other : 
Thirdly — he  has  frequently  spelled  a  word  two  different  ways,  and  has  given  a  preference; 
but  he  has  as  often  in  his  definitions,  used  the  ovthcgrapliy  which  he  has  7?f/ preferred  as 
that  which  he  has  preferred  :  Fourthly — he  ha:-;,  in  many  instances,  changed  the  crthcgra- 
fhy  of  a  word,  and  inserted  the  former  orthogvaijhy,  and  has  referred  the  reader  to  tiie  new 
spelling;  but  he  has  changed  the  orthography  of  other  words  without  having  given  the 
former  orthography,  or  any  reference  to  it :  Fifthly — he  has  many  words  lliat  are  spelled 
two  different  ways  in  his  text,  which  he  has  coupled,  sometimes  even  without  lefcrcnce  to 
their  alphabetical  arrangements,  so  that  the  reader  can  seethe  different  spelling  tf  the  same 
word  at  once;  but  he  has  other  words  differently  spelled  whicii  are  mt  thus  coupled,  which 
is  a  great  inconvenience :  Sixthly — he  has,  in  his  text,  coupled  many  words  which  he  has 
spelled  in  two  different  ways  with  one  first  in  its  alphabetical  arrangement,  and  in  anotlicr 
place  the  other  word  first,  agreeably  to  the  alphabetical  arrangement  of  that  word,  in  this 
manner,  alternately  giving  each  word,  thus  coupled,  a  preference  by  placing  it  first! 
■"  As  examples  have  been  given  under  each  of  the  preceding  classes  on  pages  14  and  15,  the 
teadcris  referred  to  them  on  those  pages. 

All  o?  lh.Q  defects  pointed  out  on  page  14,  contained  in  the  quarto,  are  generally  the  savie 
in  the  octavo.  The  c^c/ec/5  shown  on  page  15,  contained  in  the  quarto,  are  generally  the 
%ame  in  the  octavo.  In  defining  the  words  feather,  leather,  steady,  &c.  lie  has  not  used 
these  words  without  a,  as  in  the  quarto  !  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  word  sovereign, 
which  is  not  speWeAsuveran  in  tlie  definitions  of  the  octavo,  as  in  Uie  quarto  !  He  has  not 
coupled  the  words  chemist  andchimist,  chemistry  and  chiinistry,  &c.  in  tlie  quarto,  but  has 
in  the  octavo,  the  same  with  regard  to  sovereign  and  svvcran  I  In  the  quarto  he  has  spelled 
chimistry  with  i  in  the  first  syllable,  and  has  given  this  orthography  the  preference ;  and, 
he  has  also  a  note  in  the  quarto  in  which  he  showb  thr.t  this  "wcrd  sncvld  be  epellcd  witJi  », 


WEBSTER'S  OCTAVO  DICTIONARY. 


23 


and  he  has  thus  spelled  th3  word  chimisiry  and  its  d-niy a-Sv cs  fifUcn  times  in  the  definitions 
of  the  same  words,  but  in  the  octavo  he  has  spelled  ch'-'mistry  and  its  derivatives  with  e. 
and  has  given  the  words  the  full  definitions  after  this  orthography  ;  and,  he  heis  also  spelled 
the  word  chsmistry  and  its  derivatives  withe  in  the  definitiuiis  in  the  octavo,  contrary  \.o  the 
quarto  in  all  cases  I     Thui  the  words  appear  in  th-;  quarto  and  in  the  octavo : 


Quarto.                           Octavo. 

Quarto.                         Octavo. 

Chimical    '\  j-,  ii        Chemical    "^ 
Chimically  H'f        Chemically     Full 
Chimist       ^^•^,^,  Chemist        U<^.f^ 
Chimistry  J  ■'""<'^5-  Chemistry      iiitions. 
Chimistry   J 

Chemically                   Chimically  \ 
(see  chimically)       Chemically  \ 

Chemist                        Chimist  ) 
(nQC  c/iimist)            Chemist^ 

Chemistry                     Chimistry  ) 
(see  chimistry)         Chemistry  S 

Chemical                       Chimical 

(see  chimical)         Chemical 

See  CnEMisTav. 

Quarto. 

Octavo. 

Alchimic 

Alchemic 

Alchimical 

Alchemical 

Alchimically 

Alcheiiiically 

Alchimist 

Alclieniist 

Alchimisti-s 

Alchejnistic 

Alchimistical 

Alchemistical 

Alchimy 

Alchemy 

From  an  examination  of  the,  preceding  list,  we  shall  perceive  that  he  has  given  i  the  pref- 
erence both  in  the  text  and  definitioyis  of  the  quarto;  and,  that  he  has  given  e  the  preference 
in  this  class  of  v.^ords  in  the  text  and  definitions  of  the  octavo  in  all  cases  !  In  the  first 
edition  of  the  octavo,  (1829)  he  spelled  alchnny  and  its  derivatives  ^yith  i,  but  in  this  edition, 
(1831 ")  he  has  changed  them  to  e,  to  agree  with  chemistry  I  Was  this  done  by  Mr.  Webs/.er'a 
consent  1  Ifso,  w-liy  has  he  alchzmy  and  its  derivatives  with  t  in  the  duodecimo  dictionary, 
bearing  the  same  date,  1831  1 

He  lias  spelled  plow  and  its  derivatives  with  VJ  in  the  quarto,  but  jflovgk  and  its  deriva- 
tives with  ough  in  the  octavo :  thus — 

Octnvo. 


Quarto. 
Plow  {n.  & 


Plow-alm.« 

Plow-bote 

Plow-boy 

Plowed 

Plower 


Plough  {v.) 

Plough-alms 

Plough-bote 

Plou2:h-boy 

Ploughed      ' 

Plousher 


Quarto. 
Plowing  {ppr.) 
Plowing  {n.) 
Piow-land 
Plow-man 
Plow-moiulay 
Plow-share 
Unplowed 
Drillplow 


Octavo. 
Ploughing  (ppr.) 
Ploughing  (n.) 
Plough-land 
Plough-man 
Piough-rnondtiy 
Plough-share 
Unploughed 
Drillpiough 


In  this  class  of  words  there  are  the  most  glaring  contradictions  tliat  can  possibly  exist  in 
a  dictionary;  oio  is  preferred  in  all  cases  in  the  text  of  the  quarto,  and  ough  in  all  cases  in 
the  text  of  the  octavo!  And  yet  we  are  told  by  Mr.  Webster  that  "one  veiy  important 
object  of  this  scries  of  boolcs,  is  to  reduce  to  unifo rr.iity ^  the  orthography  of  a  great  number 
of  words  which  are  differently  written  by  different  authors."  In  the  quarto,  plow  is  spelled 
with  ovo  in  the  definitions ;  but  in  the  octavo  it  is  sometimes  with  ov:  and  sometimes  witli  t  ugh ; 
as  under  plough  and  its  derivatives  it  is  spelled  \n\\\  ough ^\i\x\.  \xci(s<:\  break  it  is  spcHcd 
with  ow  !  He  has  "  unplowed,  not  plowed  in  the  quarto,  and  "  unploughed,  not  ploug/u:d^' 
in  the  octavo !  although  under  break  it  is  uvploued  with  07c! 

He  has,  in  the  quarto,  spelled  furhno  with  o^v,  and  has  given  Uie  following  note  in  sup- 
port of  his  ne?<:  orthography :  "  the  common  orthography /ii/7i)7/,i'^A  is  cornjpt,  as  the  lost 
syllable  exhibits  false  radical  consonants.  The  trae  ortliogi'aphy  is/7tr/o2/? ;"  and  he  has 
spelled  \i  furlow  in  tlic  definitions  in  the  quarto;  but  in  the  octavo  he  has  spelled  il both 
ways,  and  has  given  ough  the  preference  both  in  \l\e  text  and  definitions  !     Thus — 

Quarto. 
Furlow  (n.)  leave  of  absence. 


Furlow  (y.)  to  furnish  with  a  furlow. 


Octavo 
I  Furlough  ) 
Furlow     5 
Furlough 
Furlow 


n.  kavc  of  absence. 

V.  to  furnish  with  a  furlough. 


In  the  quarto  he  has  spelled  bridegoom  without  r,  in  the  last  syllabic,  and  has  said  of  the 
fonner  orthography,  bridegroom,  "  such  a  gross  corruption  or  l>luiidcr  ought  not  to  remain  a 
reproach  to  philology ;"  yet  in  tlie  octavo  the  word  is  changed  back  to  the  oriliography  of 
Walker  and  Johnson,  contrary  to  the  (pinrlo  and  the  preceding  note,  so  that  bridegoom, 
■vithout  r  in  the  last  syllable,  docs  not  appear  in  the  t€zt  or  defnitims  of  ihc  octavo  at  all  i 


U  WEBSTER'S  OCTAVO  DICTIONARY. 

He  has,  in  the  quarto,  spelled  ribin  with  single  b,  and  in ;  but  in  the  octavo  he  has  spell- 
ed it  three  ways  !  and  he  has  given  ribbon  the  prefei-ence,  both  in  the  text  and  in  tlie  dejini' 
iio7is  of  the  octavo!  Thus,  in  defining  ribin  and  its  derivatives,  and  in  defining  the  word 
millinery,  he  has,  in  the  quarto,  spelled  it  in  all  cases  ribin,  but  in  the  octavo  ribbon  in  the 
same  situation  !     The  words  appear  in  the  following  manner,  in  the  two  dictionaries  : 

Quarto.  Octavo. 


Ribin  {n.) 


Ribin,  {v.  to  adorn  withribins!) 


Riband,  (Sec  Ribbon.) 

Ribbon,   J 

Ribin,      \   ''■ 

Ribbon,  (v.  to  adorn  with  ribbons!) 


In  the  quarto  he  has  spelled  drouth  with  th  as  the  preferable  orthography,  and  has  given 
tlie  following  note  :  "  This  is  usually  written  drought,  after  the  Belgic  dialect;  but  improp- 
erly;" but  in  the  octavo  drought  is  placed  first  as  the  preferable  orthography  in  tliat  dic- 
tionary !    thus — 


Quarto.  Octavo. 

Drouth,  Drought, 

Droutli 


Quarto.  Octavo. 

Droulhiness,  Droughtiness, 

Droutiiiness, 
Drouthy,  Droughty,  ) 

DrouUiy.    ) 


He   has  in  the  quarto,  spelled  Mclasses  with  e  in  the  first  syllable;  and  has  said  "Mo- 
lasses,  an  incorrect  orthography  o^ viElasscs  ;"  but  in  the  octavo  he  has  given  mciiasses  the  , 
preference  by  placing  it  first  in  the  text,  and  has  not  given  mclasses  in  its  place  agreeable  to 
alphabetical  arrangement ! 

In  the  quarto,  he  has  spelled  porpcss  with  ess  in  the  last  syllabi^,  and  has  not  given  any 
reference  to  the  former  orlhogvdiAiy  porpoise ;  but  m  the  octavo  he  has  spelled  ii  three  ways 
porpoise,  par  pus,  porpess,  oise,  us,  and  ess,  and  has  ^\\  en  porpoise  iht  preference  by  placing 
it  first,  dindporpess,  the  orthography  of  the  quarto,  last! !  I  And  yet  he  says  on  page  13  of  his 
pamphlet,  recently  published ;  "  Porpoise  is  a  mere  blunder!"  In  the  quarto,  he  has  spelled 
nightmar  without  final  e,  but  in  the  octavo  he  has  spelled  it  oiightmare  and  nightviar,  with 
e  and  without  it,  and  has  given  with  e  the  preference;  and,  in  the  quarto,  he  has  also  in  de- 
fining incubus  spelled    nightmar  witlioutc'  but  in  the  octavo  with  it! 

He  has,  in  the  quarto,  spelled  hagard,  when  an  adjective  and  noun  witJi  one  g,  and  hag, 
ardly  with  one^s"  also,  and  in  defining  hogardly  he  has  hagard  with  one^';  but,  in  the  octa- 
vo, lie  has  fipeWad  haggard,  noun  and  adjective,  and  haggardly,  with  gg  ;  and,  also  in  defi- 
ning Aoxr^SY/rr//?/,  he  has  spelled  haggard  whhgg! 

Is  early  all  the  discrepances  in  the  text  and  dcfmitions  of  the  quarto,  pointed  out  on  pages 
16,  17  and  18,  remain  the  same  in  the  octavo.  Perhaps  ene  hundred  of  iht  eight  hundred 
''are  corrected/''  in  the  octavo,  mostly,  however,  by  changing  the  orthography  in  ih^texi  of 
tlie  octavo,  and  making  it  agreeable  to  the  orthography  of  Walker  and  Johnson! 

The  limits  of  tliis  review  \v\\\  not  permit  me  to  pursue  the  exposition  of  the  contradic- 
tions in  orthography  between  Webster's  quarto  and  octavo  dictionaries.  The  critical  read- 
er who  wishes  to  know  more  of  the  "uniformity"  of  Mr.  Webster's  works,  can  pursue  the 
svibjcct,  and  examine  mavc  fully  iind  vA'aulchj.  1  think,  however,  that  enough  has  been 
shown,  to  convince  cveiy  impartial  scholar  c-f  the  irnprcpriety,  injustice,  and  absurdity  of 
his  condemnation  of  all  English  Dictionaries  for  want  of  ''uniformity,"  when  there  are  not 
in  existence  two  E-'igli>h  or  Amcruan  Dictionaries  which  disagree  in  orthography  as  much 
as  Webstcis  quarto  and  octavo  dictiojiarics  disagreed  And  yet  Mr.  Webster  has  slated 
on  pnge  1  of  his  pamplilet,  published  during  the  past  yea'-,  that  "  one  very  important  object 
.of  this  series  of  books;  (quarto,  octavo,  school  dictionary,  and  Elementary  Spelling  Book,)  is 
to  reduce  to  uniforniily  the  orthography  of  a  great  number  of  words  which  sue  differently 
written  by  dijjerent  authors"  ! 

With  »'egard  to  the  justness  of  these  remarks  by  Mr.  Webster,  tlie  candid  publicli  must 
decide,  after  having  read  attentively  and  critically  tlie  preceding  and  following  pages  of  tliis 
tfcviev/. 


REVIEW 


WEBSTER'S    DUODECIMO    DICTIONARY 


[The  copy,  quoted  in  this  Review,  hears  date  1831.] 
A  FEW  monihs  after  the  publication  of  the  octdvo  dictionary  Mr.  Webster  published  "  A 
Dictionary  of  the  English  Language :  abrjd^-cU  from  the  Aniencan  DicUouary,  for  the 
use  of  Primai-y  Schools  and  the  Couiitin^- House."  ,  •         x.   , 

In  the  prefixce  to  this  (duodecimo)  dicti<^nary,  page  3,  in  spoakmg  of  the  orthography  of 
the  (luarto  and  octavo  dictionaries,  he  has  staled,  that  "  som^  errors  m  orUio^raphy  reaped 
obseivalion;"  and  farther  remarks,  "Bat  the  nuaiber  of  tii-se  1  am  not  able  to  ascerlam; 
as  it  is  not  probable  that  I  shall  ever  again  read  tha  whole  ol  the  octavo  or  quarto  edition. 
My  intense  and  Ion"  continued  labors  retjder  repose  essential  to  my  health  and  comfort, 
during  the  short  penod  of  life  which  remains."  [And  yet,  Mr.  "VVebstcr,  after  this  ap^, 
peal  to  the  sympathies  of  the  community,  relative  to  the  errors  which  had  been  discover- 
ed' in  his  works  instead  of  seeking  "  repose;'  has  travelled  almost  v/ithout  cessation, 
makin<^  speeches'  in  the  different  cities  and^large  villages,  pvffing  his  new  system  of 
spell  in"-  and,  at  the  same  lime,  condemning  Johnson,  Walker,  cuid  others;  and  has  u.-icd 
every  effort  to  make  "proselytes,"  although  ho  has  stated  in  his  pamphlet,  page  8,  timt 
"  personal  api)licatioA  has  been  made  by  i'KD.olikg  co.mpilers,  to  teachers  and  others,  for 
the  purpose  of  inducing  them  to  lay  aside  my  book  (alluding  to  his  Speliing-Book)  and  use 
iheirown"!!  A^in;  ^^  says,  on  page  2,  "  tiiis  duodecimo  volume,  iny  last  v/orl",  all 
written  and  cor-'^cted  by  myself,"  [mykklpI]  (who^  else  would  write  Webster's  dictionary, 
but  [myself  I^Mr.  WKBSTr.u  7)  "  is  to  be  coMi,idered  as  containing  tlie  pointing,  onhogra{)hy, 
and  pronunciation,  which  I  [II]  most  approve;"  although  on  page. 3,  in  the  preface  prefixed 
to  the  octavo  dictionary,  published  but  i\ix  mnntks  previous  to  the  date  of  the  preface  from 
which  the  preceding  extract  is  made,  Vn:  htated,  that  "  The  (jiiarfo  edition  will,  of  cours'j,  be. 
considered  as  presenting  his  exact  tieics  of  the  propp.r  arrangciaent  and  exhibition  of 
words.  1-1^  respect  to  their  orthography  aiul  pkonunciatjon"  ! !  Again,  on  page  1  of  his 
para^jilet,  published  the  past  year,  he  has  slated,  tliat  "  one  very  importcint  ol^ect  of  tJiis 
sencs  of  books,  (quarto,  octavo,  duodecimo,  and  Elementary  SpelVmg-Book.)  is  to  reduce  to 
uniformity,"  thereby  conveying  tlie  idea  that  thcss  four  books  are  "unifomi"  and  consistent 
in  their  orthography !  .  .  *  , 

I  now  propose  to  show  tliat  "  this  duodecimo  volume,  his  last  work,  all  written  and  cor- 
rected by  himself,"  is  no  more  to  be  coasultcd  as  a  "  St.^nd.^rd  of  Orthoghapuv,"  than 
the  quarto  and  octavo  dictionaries,  the  contradictions,  inconsistencies,  and  anomalies  of 
which  I  have  already  pointed  out. 

All  the  contradicfyio7is  and  inconsistencies  hi  the  ortliography  of  the  class  of  v/ords  wincJj 
end  with  ck,  except  hassock,  pointed  out  on  pag:?  8,  contained  in  llio  quai'to,  remain  in  the  'iuo- 
decimo  I  The  following  inconcistency,  contained  b^th  in  the  quaiio  and  octavo,  is  stiil  re- 
tained in  the  duodecimo.  He  has  spelled  viimic,  wlien  a  noun,  widiout  /',  and  with  it  whf  n 
a  verb;  yet  he  has  made  no  such  distinction  in  the  wovd^fr click  and  trafjich,  having  ij.cilcd 
them  Vv'ith  k,  when  a  noun  and  verb!  This  rnnovatlon  makes  anoUier  "'  ancmaly"  iii  oi.r 
language,  that  oi  spelling  the  noun  and  verb  differently,  when  thjy  avc pronmnued  alJMe. 

The  orthography  of  the  class  of  words  which  end  with  er,  in  the  quarto,  as  llic  f/rcfeiablo 
orthography,  pointed  out  on  page  9,  he  has  changed  back  to  the  crlhography  of  the  quar.o, 
with  g/Z  the  contradictions  pointed  ()Ut  on  tl  at  page,  witli  the  addiiion'oi  s.'r  t>r  >'.rtu 
more!  and  has  given  the  termination  er  the  preference,  contrary  to  tiic  octavo,  rublijl'.td 
six  months  previous  !  Thus,  in  the  quarto,  he  has  spelled  fiber,  luster,  mitrr,  ocii«  r.  and 
specter,  but  one  way,  with  er  ;  but  in  the  duodecimo  he  has  .'spelled  ihcm  two  ways, «.-/  and 
re  both!  The  word  bcUeslcttres  he  has  spelled  v.ilJi  re  in  tiic  quiu-lo  and  octavo,  but  wiUi 
er  in  the  duodecimo ! 

In  die  duodecimo,  he  has  six  different  Ways  of  exhibiting  the  orthogiaphy  of  this  oiasa 
of  words,  which  end  with  er  or  re.  Thus,  center;  acre;  amphitheaif-r,  for  fre]\  fiber» 
fibre;  luster,  lustre;  and  scepter,  [sceptre]! !!  Cluite  a  "  nniformily"  ii  deed,  wliicli  is  "  a 
prime  excellence  in  spelling."  He  coademns,  in  the  iiuroduction  to  his  qiiailo.  the  loimina- 
tion  red  in  sceptred,  yet  he  has,  in  tlie  text  of  tiie  quarto,  octavo,  and  duotJccimo,  spelled 
hungred  with  tJiis  termination,  although  hunger  is  spelled  with  the  termination  erl 

Tnc  class  of  words  which  end  with  ./Tin  Uie  octavo,  ns  the  preferable  orUioCTsphy,  he  ha» 
changed  back  to  thb  orthogrspby  of  'Jr  oinrt'),  wifli  single  /,  witli  two  or  direc  ad<ritionRl 


S6  WEBSTER'S  DUODECIMO  DICTIONARY. 

contradidions  not  in  ihe  quarto  !  Tluis,  ho  lias  spelk^d  mastif  and  mastiff,  with  sin^-Ie  / 
and./.'  He  has  restif  and  restive,  with/  and  ive !  He  has  distaff  with  ff\  but'all  of  the  Sther 
words  end  with  single/.'  Ho  has,  alter  tlic  words  sherif  and  tarif,  inserted  [sheriff]  and 
[tanfi  ]  with  //;  in  brackets ;  but  lie  has  not  inserted  the  old  ortlicgraiDhy  of  any  other  words 
except  [sjicriirj  and  [tariff]  in  bracket.-^.,  after  tlie  new  orlhograpny  1 

He  has,  in  tlie  duodecimo,  spelled  inidriff  v.nth  ff,  ccuirary  to  his  text  in  deii)-iin<>-  dia- 
phragm. He  has,  in  the  duodecimo,  all  the  inconsistencies  in  "the  class  of  words  whicli  end 
in  ance  ande?icc,  pointed  out  on  page  iO;  but  he  spelled  entrance,  (verb,)\vi±  c.  contrary  to 
tlie  quarto,  in  the  duodecimo  of  1829  ! 

In  the  orthography  of  the  word  adie  and  its  compounds,  he  has  not,  in  the  duodecirao,  as 
many  coiitradictioiis  as  in  Uie  quarto,  pointed  out  on  page  10,  for  he  has  only  ^<zr^  of  the 
v/ords.  Thus,  he  has  not  bellyache  or  boneache  m  tlie  duodecimo ;  but  he  has  some  iicto 
conU-adictions  not  m  cither  the  quarto  or  octavo!  As,  headache,  hcadalve  j  herrtache, 
heartaJve,  with  che  and  k  both;  but  too^a,ache  v/ith  che  only  !  when  headache  iind  heartache 
are  spelled  but  one  Avay  either  in  the  quarto  or  octavo.  Thus,  he  hay  these  two  words  each 
spelled  three  ways,  m  his  three  dictionaries.     rSee  pa^-es  10  and  iJ.l 

Th^  contradictions  in  tlie  ortliography  of  ibe  class  of  words  v/hich  end  in  Z  or  II,  pointed 
out  on  page  11,  remain  tlie  same  in  tlie  duodecimo,  except  that  he  has  added  to  the  number 
of  tlicm ;  thus,  he  nas  medalist  v.^itli  single  Z,  and  mcialiist  with  U,  contradicLorii,  but  both 
alike,  witJi  II,  m  the  quarto  and  octavo!  In  Uic  quarto  «jd  octavo,  he  has  spelled  widial, 
therewithal,  and  wherewithal,  with  single  Z,  but  in  the  duorlecimo,  he  has  spelled  withal 
with  II,  contrary  to  tlie  quaito  and  octavo,  and  tlierev/ithal  and  wherev/ithal  with  sino-le  I 
agreeing  with  them!  and  the  Z  should  be  doubled  in  all  of  them  agreeably  to  his°rule! 
'Again,  he  has  not  doubled  Z  in  extol,  "  which  must  bo  doubled  in  the  derivation"  extolling' 
&c. ;  but  has  spelled  it  as  Johnson  and  Walker  have..  He  has,  qi  the  duodecimo,  speUed 
brimful!  with  ZZ,  contrary  io  the  quarto  and  octavo,  emd  handful  widi  sino-leZ.'  A  o-reat 
many  of  tlae  words  pointed  out  on  page  12,  as  contradictory,  are  not  in  the  duodecTmo  • 
but  in  those  v/hich  a.re  inserted,  the  contradictions  still  exist;  as,  vizard  v/itli  z  and  un- 
Tisard  with  si  inthralled  with  i,  and  uncnthralled  with  el  referee  witli  sino-le  r  and  trans- 
ferree  with  rr !  Sec.  &c.  He  has,  in  the  duGdecii.-:o,  apposit,  appositly,  [fnd  appositness 
without  e,  and  opposite,  oppositely,  and  oppositeness,  with  c!  but  all  oi  tiiem  liave  e  in\lie 
quarto  and  octavo,  so  that  this  contradiction  docs  not  exist  in  either  of  tli?ni !  He  has  in 
the  duodecimo,  scurilous,  scurilously,  and  scuriiousncss,  with  single  r,  bui -with  rr  in 'tlie 
quarto  and  octavo!  He  lias  berylline  and  coralline  with  II,  and  crystaline  -v^rith  sino-le  I! 
He  has  kale  witli  k,  anU  seacale  c !  He  has,  in  the  duodecimo,  spelled  bivilder,  bflder  • 
building,  bilding:  and  built,  bilt,  iv:o  ways,  with  ni  and  w'itli  i  only,  but  in  tht.  quarto  and 
octavo,  one  way,  with  nil  He  has  also  spelled  built,  bilt,  two  ways,  but  airbuiKbut  one! 
In  the  duodecimo,  he  has  spelled  burden,  disburden,  and  overburden,  oneway,  with^  only" 
but  unburthen,  unburden,  with  th  and  d,  and  lias  given  ih  the  preference !  He  has,  'iq,  the 
duodecimo,  torsion  with  s,  and  detortion  with  t!  In  the  quarto,  calicc,  without  h,  is  ♦j^e 
"preferable  orthography;"  altliough  chaliced  is  spelled  v/ith  h;  but  in  the  duodecimo 
chalice  is  spelled  wi\h  h  only  !  He  has,  in  the  quarto  and  octavo,  spelled  cumfrcy,  coni- 
frey,  and  comfry,  three  ways,  but  in  the  duodecimo  he  has  it  but  one  way,  comfry,  tlie  or- 
tliography  tlie  least  preferred  eitlier  in  tlie  quarto  or  octavo  ! !  He  has,  in  the  duodecimo, 
spelled  pierce  one  way,  witli  ie  only  ;  but  unpicrced,  unperced,  witli  ie  and  c  both,  contrary 
to  the  quarto  and  octavo  1  He  has,  in  die  duodecimo,  spelled  unsteadfast,  unstedfast,  and 
its  derivatives,  tv:o  ways,  v/idi  ca  and  e  only,  but  in  the  quart-o  and  octavo  one  way,  ca ! 
He  has,  in  the  duodecimo,  spelled  venturesome  with  e  after  the  r,  but  adventursome  without 
e!  In  the  duodecimo,  he  has  burg  without  h,  and  burgher  witli  it!  He  has  accruing  v\-ith- 
out  c,  and  rueing  with  it!  He  has  bullfinch  witli  II,  and  bulrush  witli  single  Z,  and  the  u 
preceding  the  Z  has  the  same  sound  in  each.  In  die  quarto  and  octavo,  he  has  given  villany, 
without  i,  the  preference,  and  has  spelled  archviliany  v/iUiout  i  ;  but  in  the  duodecimo  he 
has  spelled  villainy  with  i !  In  the  duodecimo,  he  has  changed  the  ortliography  of  chemistry 
and  its  derivatives,  back  to  tlie  quarto,  contrary  to  tlic  octavo ! 

Octavo.  Duodecimo.  [  Octavo.  Dii,odecimo. 

ChL'.iistry  ,  Chimistry  Alchemical  Alchiniical 

Chemical  Chimico.'  I  Alchcniieaily  Alchimically 

Chemically  Chimicai'y  j  Alchemist  Alchimist 

Chemist  Chimist  I  Alehomistic  Alchimistir 

Alchemic  Alchimic  Alchcniistical         Alchimisdcal 

1  Alchemy  Alchimy ! 

He  has,  in  the  duodecimo,  changed  the  orthograpliy  of  plough  and  its  djrivativos,  back  to  the 
quarto,  contrary  to  the  octavo ! 

Octavo.  Duodecimo^ 

Plough  I'low 


Ploughing  Plowing 

Ploughed  Plowed 

Ploughland  pir,,,.).,,-^) 


Octavo.  Duodecimo. 

Ploughman  Plov/man 


Ploughshare  P'i0wshar( 

13rillplough  Drillplow 

Uiiplou^du-d  Unplowed 


WEBSTER'S    DUODECIMO  DICTIONARY.  flT 

In  the  diiodaciaio,  hs  has  sp3llecl  furlow  with  nc,  contrary  to  the  octavo,  in  which  it  ij 
f  iiiough  !  Ho  has,  in  the  duodecimo,  spclied  bi-id'=',^;oom  without  /•  in  the  last  syllable, 
a^raoably  to  ih'i  quarto,  but  conlrartj  to  the  octavo,  as  bridegoom,  without  r  in  the  last  sylla- 
ble, does  not  appear  either  in  the  text  or  definitions  of  the  octavo  !  He  has,  in  the  duode- 
cimo, changed  the  ortho2:i-aphy  of  ribin,  back  to  the  quarto,  contrary  to  the  octavo'  In  the 
duodecimo,  he  has  spelled  mdasses  v/lih  e,  contrary  *.o  the  octavo,  in  wliich  molasses  is  given 
as  the  prefera!3le  orthography.  In  the  octavo,  he  has  given  porpoise  the  preference,  but  in 
the  duodecimo,  he  has  it  porpess !  In  the  duodecimo,  he  has  nightmar  without  final  <?,  but  in 
the  octavo  with  e,  as  the  preferable  orthography.  He  has,  in  the  duodecimo,  changed  the  oi^ 
thogi-aphy  of  hagard  and  hagardly,  back  to  the  quarto,  contrary  to  the  octavo !  He  has  I 
single  in  although,  always,  and  jackal,  in  which  the  a  is  broid,  and  the  I  should  be  doubl-id 
agreeably  to  his  rule,  "  that  single  I  would  lead  to  a  fil^e  pronunciation  !"  He  has  in  the  du- 
odecimo, apposit  withovxt  final  c,  and  inapposite  with  it,  contrary  to  the  quarto  and  octavo ! 
In  the  duodecimo,  he  lias  gazetteer  v.'ith  il^  and  gan-eteer  with  single  ^.'  lie  has  in  tlie  duo- 
decimo, foliaceous  with<?M/.5,  and  cxti-afoliacious  with  ions!  He  has  diphylous  with  single 
/,  and  hexaphyllous  vf'whll!  He  has  in  the  duodecimo,  lunge  with  u,  and  allonge  with  o! 
In  the  duo  Jeeimo  he  has  pinnate  with  i,  bipennate  with  e,  and  tripennate,  tripinnate  with  e 
and  i  both  !  In  the  duodecimo,  he  has  gillyflower  with  y,  and  clovegilllfiowcr  with  i  !  He 
has  clanish  and  clanishness  with  single  7i,  corUrary  to  the  rule  of  spelling  derivative  words, 
which  is,  that  a  consonant  that  ends  a  niono33/lh\ble  or  a  word  accented  on  the  last  sylla- 
ble, preceded  !)y  a  single  vowel,  should  be  doubled,  v/lien  a  .syllable  is  added  beginning  with 
a  vowel,  as  span,  spanning,  &c.  In  the  duodecimo,  he  has  turkey,  turUy,  with  ev  and  y 
both,  but  all  the  other  words  of  this  class,  as  jockey,  lackey,  &o.,  he  has  spelled  but  one 
way  !  He  has,  in  the  duodecimo,  spelled  stead,  sted,  witli  ea  and  c,  both  ways,  but  instead 
one  way,  ca ! 

On  page  13,  I  have  pointed  out  what  qualities  a  dictionary  should  possess  in  an  em- 
inent degree,  if  intended  to  be  a   "  Standard  of  Orthography."     This  daodecimo  dictionaiy 
is  as  (Ufective  as  either  the  quarto  or  octavo,  particularly  as^e  has  exhibited  a  greater  ^t•rt7l^ 
of  decision  in  giving  the  orthography  of  each  vrord  than  in  them.     Thu.s,  he  has  all  the  va- 
rieties of  spelling  the  different  words,  pointed  out  on  pages  H,  15,  and  1(5.  as,  apostrophe, 
apostrophy ;  epitome,  epitomy ;  enlist,  inlist;  entwine,  i^twine,  <Sx-.  &c.     He  has,  in  the- 
quarto,  spelled  proceed,  procedo  ;  succeed,   succede  ;  a^  exceed  (hree  different  ways ;  but 
in  tlie  duodecimo   he  has  changed  them  back  to  thp^^thograp^y  of  Johnson  and  Walker, 
all  with  ccd!     In  the  duodecimo,  he  has,  in  the  <^rthogr|iKiy  of  the  words  which  end  in 
aunt,  a  great  mcLXiy  contradictions.     Thus,  h^ ^as  daj^'t  and  taunt  07ic  way,  but  flaunt, 
flant;  haunt,  hant ;  and  vaunt,  vant,  iivo  y^s !     .^g^ui ;  altliough  lie  lias   given   tlicse 
three  words  tivo  ways,  he  has  given  vau^'^?>  vaj?<^ii&  /W'J  ways  ;   flaunting  but  one  way 
and  the  participle  haunting  is  not  irii^^-'^  atX'i^ !  .  He  has,  in  tlie   duodecimo,  strow 
strowed;  strew,  strcv.'ing,  strewed,  \v^iout  lip^ng  given  any  preference!     He  ha.s,  in  the 
duodecimo,  spelled  craunrh  crancl'l'  hauiipA,  hanch,  (ico  Avays,  and  stanch  but  unc  way 
In  the  duodecimo,  he  has  Czar,  7^^^' ;  O^i'i"''';  Tzanna  willi  Cz  and  Tc  /     Ho  has  np  de- 
cision  at  aU  in  his  orthograpl^;  for  ip^ancc,  he  says  m  the  quarto,  that  wiry  is  prcfcraWe 
to  wieiy,  yet  he  has  place*^^*^'^y  ^^  ^^^  "-^  duod.:;cimo!     He  says  in  his  nev.-  Spellin"-- 
Book,  page  137,  Uiat  m^Y  wor-k  which  are  spelled  witli-ea  should  be  v/ith  c  onlv  ;  but 
in  his  duodecimo  di(^"^iy  V^'"'^  "'^'-''^  of  them  with  otjc  spelling,  others  with  two;  as 
spread,  spred ;  tretv^;  steady >ixed,  (Slc.  &c. ;  lie  has  also  some  of  th-^.^iarticiplcs  with  one 
spelling,  others  v^^li  ^^'0  ^  ''^•'5.  sprcatlmg,  sproddmg,  treading,  &c.     He  lias  sovereign  and 
suveran,  both  v^ys,  'n\)^<i  duodecimo,  v/ithcut  havir.j:  givrn  a  TnTfercnce  !     TJie  contradic- 
tions pointecWut  on  pxges  16, 17,  and  18,  between  the  ddinitior.s  and  text  in  orthography,  arc 
not  as  nuv'-rous  in  me  duodecimo  as  in  the  octavo  jind  quarto,  as  most  of  the  definitions'  are 
change-'and  ablKCVUtted,  yet  the  greater  part  of  them  wliieh  are  inserted,  remain  covtradic- 
torv.^i^s,  holid-riy  under  ferial;  faggot  under  dunnage;  cntmst  under  confident;  ensnare 
un^er  catch;    intreat  under  obsecrate ;    intrcaty  under   obsecration;  halbcrt  under  glair; 
pcupify  un/fer  dull,  &.c.  &c.     Again;  he  has  in  the  duodecimo,  in  defining  anconv,  .««Ti(!Icd 
bloomer?',  contrary  to  his  text,  blomaiy;  in  defining  travesty  he  has  .epellcd  burlcsk  with  /t 
which  is  not  the  orthography  that  he  has  preferred  in  his  text!     In  the  duodecimo,  Uic 
definitions  of  the  words  suljlile  and  subUe  are  confounded.     In   the  duodecimo,   he  has 
ip  defining   nauseous  and  nauscousness,  spelled  loihcsorne  willi  e,  contrary  to  his  text 
lothsome  !  (fee.  &c. 

It  is  very  improper  and  perplexing  to  exhibit /ifo  difTermt  ppHlings  of  the  same  word- 
for,  the  scholar  will  alv.ays  hesitate  in  spelling  it,  somcl;!  .  iic  oithoirrnphv,  some- 

times the  other;  a.s  vo.uiit  and  vant,  unburthm  anduii'mr  ,1  st.  iilt~&c.  &<-.;  yet 

Mr.  Webster  has,  in  his  duodecimo,  not  only  given  two  <i  '  mc-s  of  tlie  snmf  word, 

wheri  coupled  together,  os  vaunt,  vant.  hiuinch,  \umr\i,  iki-.;  but  he  h;i^  vivin  two  flifl"  rf>nt 
spellings  of  the  same  word,  when  nvt  coui^led,  with  the  ramcor  simi/.>r  -1.  unition<  !  Thus, 
sovereign  (rt.)  supreme  in  power;  suverun,  (a.)  -supn  r.ic  in  pow.  r,  <  hitf:  sovf  r.-iv').  ('i.)a 
supremo  nilcr ;  suveran  (/(.)  a  supreme  lord  or  rul.r:  sovrrcigniy,  supremacy,  "sui>iMue 
dominion;  suveranty,  supreme  pov.-er,  supremacy:  uchc,  to  be  in  pnin;  ake,  to'be  in  coTi- 
tfinued  pain!  vant,  vaunt,  to  boast,  to  brog;  vnunt,  vant,  to  boast,  to  brog!  enlistment,  act- 


Sfi 


WEESTKH'S  duodecimo  DiCTlOKAHY. 


of  enlisting; ;  inlistment,  act  ofinlisting!  engrained,  cl3'ed  in  die  grain:  ingrained,  dyed  in 
the  grain  I  encase,  to  inclose  in  a  case ;  incase,  to  inclose  in  a  case  !  encage,  to  confine  in  a 
cage ;  incage,  to  confine  in  a  cage  1  &c.  &c.  &c.  His  system  can  not  be  compkte,  unless  he 
shall  give  all  the  difterent  spellings  of  the  same  word  in  each  of  his  four  books,  \iz.  Cluarto, 
Octavo,  Duodecimo,  and  his  new  Spelling-Book;  as  stevil,  sterile;  vaunt,  vant,  &c.  &c. 

Mr.  Webster's  duodecimo  dictionary  is  very  deficient  in  one  im.poitant  particular.  Many 
words  in  common  use  are  not  contained  in  it;  as,  achor,  ambitious,  arc,  asseverate,  benig- 
nant, bruit,  cantharides,  capias,  chronometer,  composite,  dictation,  discrepancy,  discrepant, 
execution,  suspire,  fascine,  indign,  logarithms,  cbs'.;vvatory,  stupidity,  &c.  &c.  all  of  which, 
'except  discrepancy  and  execution,  are  in  his  nev/  Spelling-Book  !  and  there  are  numerous 
other  words,  not  above  enumerated,  contained  in  his  new  Spelling-Book,  which  are  not  in 
the  duodecimo  dictionary',  "for  the  use  of  Primary  Schools!!"  [See  page  38.]  On  page 
131  of  his  new  Spelling-Book,  he  has,  in  the  second  cohnrm,  seven  words,  only  one  of 
which  is  in  his  duodecimo  school  dictionary !  As  this  review  is  limited  to  the  orthography 
of  the  language,  no  particular  notice  will  be  taken  of  the  contradictions  in  pronunciation 
which  exist  between  the  octavo  and  duodecimo  dictionaries.  These  are  more  nun.erous  than 
even  the  contradictions  in  orthography,  j^articularly  in  the  division  of  words.     Thus,  in  the 


Octavo. 

Ax-iom 

Aux-il-ia-ry 

Bagn-io 

Do-mes-ti-cate 


Duodecimo. 
Ax-i-om 
Aux-il-i-a-ry 
Bag-nio 
Do-mes-tic-ate. 


Octavo. 

Ev-cr-y 

Gen-cr-al 

Gen-cr-ous 

Com-i-cal 


Duodecimo. 
Ev-e-ry 
Gen-e-ral 
Gen-e-rous 
Com-ic-al 


He  has,  in  the  quarto  and  duodecimo,  given  thcjhort  broad  sound  in  fault,  defLiult,  assault, 
i&c,  and  the  lo7ig  broad  sound  in  the  octavo !  Again ;  he  has  a  great  many  contradiclionSj 
in  the  duodecimo,  in  the  division  of  words  of  similar  or  precisely  the  same  form  or  termi- 
nation.    Thus, 


Anx-i-ous 

Nox-ious 
Car-riage 
Win-dow 
Fe-brile 


and 


Over-anx^ious 

In-noxi-ous 

V7heel-C£r-ri-age 

Bor-mar-W.vid.ow 

An-M-feb-rile 


An-ti-pes-ti-len-tial 
Su-per-in-cumb-ent 
Trixt-ta-ce-ous 
Re-gi-on 
Pro-diff-ious,  &c.  &c. 


Pest-i-len-tial 

In-cum-bent 

Crus-ta-ceous 

Lo-gion 

Li-tig-i-ous 

The  contradiclions  in  divisWi  are  si,v(^jj->^p,-oiis.  tlinl  the  limits  of  this  review  will  not 
.pennit  me  to  point  out  one  iwenil^tJi  part  f  i^em.  He  lias,  in  the  pronunciation,  in  the 
quarto, octavo,  and ducdecnno,  changed  agrt^t,  many  v.ords  to  tliat  of  Wal/.cr,  comvary  to 
his  former  dictionaries  and  S|pelhng--Rook:  t-  angel,  danger,  are,  folio,  convenient,  6'.c. 
&c.  although  he  has  said  that  Walker's  pnnunciac^,^  is  ^ot  heard  in  "  any  decent  socic-ty  in 
England"!^"!  The  keys  in  the  different  di^tionarie.  avg  different,  which  create  sonie  per- 
plexity ;  for  instance,  attorney  m  the  octavo,  a.d  attorioy  i„  the  duodecimo,  &c.  &c. 

Again;  he  is  not  consistent  or  uniform  m  nc^.^ng  the  -.jient  letters  by  printing  them  in 
Italick  in  all  cases,  when  silent,  in  theduodecn-no;  i.<,,  recei_i>  ^^Jth  p  Italick.  contempt  with 
©Roman  !  often  with  I  Roman,  and  soften  vvith  t  Itait.k !  moiy.^,^  ^^ith  /  Italick,  and"  glisten 
with /.  Roman,  when  oil  of  them  have  f  sdent,  agrccabVr  to  his  ^ew  Spelling-Book.  page 
140 !  &c.  &c.  .  ,  "      . 

Mr.  Webster  has,  in  the  introduction  to  the  quarto,  in  page!?  of  the ;{„odrcimo.  and  page 
11  of  his  pamphlet,  published  during  the  past  year,  spelled  enth.-f^H  win.  f.^  cwtro.ry  to  the 
text  of  all  his  dictionaries,  in  which  it  is  spelled  wiLh  t!  In  shoi\.  to  poiu  ^lU  a!t  the  cii7i- 
tradictions,  inconsistencies,  and  anomalies,  in  orthography,  pronunnation,  i^cent,  and  di- 
vision of  words,  which  exist  in  the  quarto,  octavo,  and  duodecimo,  wo^ld  requi...  ^  book  as 
large  as  the  duodecimo  dictionary  itself;  and  I  must  therefore  be  cor.tent  v/iiv  having 
pointed  out  apart  of  each,  that  the  reader  may  have  a  clew  or  index  to  thtrn,  and  ermine 
them  at  his  leisure. 


REVIEW 

OF 

MR.  WEBSTER'S  AMERICAN  SPELLING-BOOK. 

FIRST  PUBLISHED  IN  THE  ALBANY  ARGUS,  IN  1S27— 8. 


\3  the  publishers  of  Mr.  Webster's  new  E'etnenTary  Si)eninfr-Book.  compiled  hv  AARON  ELY.  have  reserved  t« 
themselves  the  ri^'ht  to  publish  either  the  old  or  the  ne7P  FJpeliin^-Book,  as  should  best  suit  their  Interests,*  I  have 
conclufied  to  insert  the  review  of  the  o/d  Speliin?-Book  which  was  published  in  the  Albany  Arpus,  except  that  part 
which  p  irticiilarly  relate?  to  Mr.  WeWster'.s  innovations  in  the  orthography  of  his  old  Spelling-Book,  and  Dictiona- 
ries published  in  180S  and  1S17.  For  this  part  of  that  review,  the  reader  is  referred  to  pages  7,  8, 9  and  10  of  this  R» 
view,  in  which  the  improprietv  of  those  innovations  is  taken  into  consideration. 

Mr.  Webster's  spelline-book  w^as  founded  upon,  and  .succeeded  Dilworth's.  It  was  so  supcriour  to  its  predecessftf, 
Jn  many  respects,  as  to  acquire  an  immediate  and  unparalleled  popularity,  which  it  has  .sustained  with  little  inter- 
ruption for  mors  than  rc/rty  ynarx.  So  masical  indeed  has  been  the  charm  of  popularity  woven  around  it.  that  all 
desire  for.  or  efforts  to  improvement,  seem  to  have  been  paralyzed  ;  and  it  is  not  until  within  a  few  years,  that  anjr 
sxiccessful  attempts  have  been  male  to  irai)rovc  upon  this  popular  system.  The  merits  of  Mr.  Webster's  hook  have 
been  duly  considered  by  me ;  and  while  I  would  award  to  him  the  just  m.eed  of  praise  for  timely  efforts  in  the  cause 
of  education.  I  am  not  disposed  to  deny,  that,  since  our  systems  of  instruction  have  undergone  much  change,  ar.d 
the  elements  of  our  lan'ruage  have  been  more  closely  investigated  and  more  clearly  defined,  useful  improvempnu 
In  the  department  in  which  Mr.  Webster  was  so  successful  may  be  made,  if  they  be  not.  in  fact,  from  circumstance! 
atid  the  spirit  of  the  ase,  absolutely  required.  Great  caution  is  necessary,  however,  that  the  laudable  spirit  of  Im- 
proveinenl,  and  the  love  of  variety  and  change,  should  not  be  imposed  upon  by  speculators  and  pretenders;  and 
that  a  work,  entitled  to  respect  for  thoeo 'd  which  it  has  liitherto  been  instrumental  in  effecting,  should  not  be 
driven  from  the  publick  confidence,  except  by  one  of  equ.'^l  or  superiour  merits. 

First— as  the  euiding  principles  of  my  invcstication,  I  will  state  the  leadins  characteristicks  of  such  a  filing 
Book  as  I  should  deem  worthv  of  a  general  introduction  into  our  primary  schools. 

1.  It  .=;hoald  contain  as  great  a  number  of  the  words  in  ojmmon  use  as  practicable,  to  the  exclusion  of  extraneous 
and  iiTclevant  matter ;  as  many  who  attend  our  primary  schools  have  no  other  opportunity  of  acquiring  a  correct 
knowledge  of  the  elements  of  our  laneua^e. 

2.  The  classification  of  words  should  be  judicious  and  distinct ;  and  the  system  adopted  be  strictly  and  correctly 
adher^vl  to. 

3.  Tlie  arrangement  should  be  plain  and  simple,  with  a  due  regard  to  the  e.-^panding  capacities  and  the  progresslTS 
Imprnvemeni  of  the  learner. 

4.  In  orlhojraphy  and  orthoepy  \X  should  correspond  with  the  standard  dictionary  of  the  country;  or  strictly  con- 
form with  the  principles  of  the  work  it  professes  to  follow  :  for  the  dictionary,  and  not  the  spelling  hook,  must  b* 
the  standard  of  reference;  and  hence  ;he  importance,  for  the  u;*.iformity  and  correctness  of  our  lang:uage,  that  the 
latter  work  should  be  founded  and  carefully  constructed  upon  the  principles  of  the  former. 

CONTEXTS. 

Mr.  Webster's  spellin?-bool'  mmprise?:  Ifi?  paces:  14  of  which  are  introductorv :  fie  contain  words  taken  from  the 
dictionary' :  29  paecs  contain  the  names  of  persons,  places.  &c. ;  47  contain  reading  lessons  :  8  contain  pictures,  and 
fables  :  and  4  pti?es  contain  numbers,  abbreviations,  explanations  of  the  characters  used  in  writing,  and  a  census 
of  the  United  States. 

TIius  we  find  that  IR  pases  less  than  half  of  Mr.  Webster's  Fpplling-book.  are  devoted  to  the  insertion  of  spelling 
lessons,  containing  words  of  our  lanmiage  to  the  number  of  69'>0,  including  the  examples  of  the  formation  of  plurals, 
derivative  and  compound  words  to  the  number  of  1I50,  so  that  there  are  onlyssno  words  of  the  language  in  his  buck 
arraneed  expressly  for  spellinH,  with  the  pronunciation  noted  ;  of  tlie.=e  5^00  words,  2->i  are  inRcrted  more  than  onoo 
in  the  diffp'ent  spelllnt  lessons,  not  including  those  subject  to  diflerent  accentuation  when  differently  apfilied :  as, 
pare  '9,  spike  and  spiJce :  18  and  19,  npe.  ride,  irvfe. ;  lo  ami  3''^  hence,  pence,  fcnc,  ^clch.  rinse,  brick,  sri-k.  kick ; 
pa'-'e  ■^o  and  3i,  adversity:  parre  32,  and  33,  slay  ;  pare  23  and  51  alase:  page  66  and  (^7,  adniisrfble ;  pare  ?5  and  146, 
(.OUTS",  rnnr^e.  knnw,  h'w.  neir:  19  and  14=1,  sate,  vale,  &c.  &c.  Mr.  Webster's  spellinir  lesions  are.alFO  quite  ieju 
ci'nt  inasmuch  as  he  has  not.  In  anv  of  them,  inserted  any  words  of.  four  syll.able.s  accented  on  Ihefm/rth,  as  super- 
intend.  r>iiiltinH(an'l.  A-c. :  words  of  five  syllables  accented  on  Ihe  fourth,  as  administrator,  .ivperinterulent.  &c  ; 
M-ords  of  six  or  seven  svUahles  with  their  (lifTeront  .accentuation.  a.s  supernumerary,  i'lepirimacy.  indefaji^able, 
eiiperioritii.  encyclopedia,  impracticability,  Ac.  Aeain,  Mr  AVcbster  omitted  a  jrreat  many  words  in  most  comnton 
use:  as,  abhorrence,  abridge,  absorb,  abstain,  abundance,  ac-ndemy.  acecss,  accord,  accost,  accu.se,  armiirement, 
achieve,  nrute,  adapt,  adopt,  adult,  advancement,  adverb,  ailvice,  ;iffect,  afrent,  ar£rress,  asrrce,  aeue,  alletlsre.  allega- 
tion, allesiauco.  alley, alphabet,  .ambush,  an.alyze, anile,  animate,  annul,  anvil,  ap|)eal,  anple,  arLMie,  armour,  article, 
assault,  assemble,  assist,  assistance,  associate,  atmosphere,  attain,  attract,  attribute,  austere,  avail,  avarice,  average, 
averse,  avow,  await,  award,  axis,  axle,  &c.  &c.  throughout  the  whoe  laneuarre.  a  s-reat  |>ortion  of  the  most  comiuon 
words  was  entirety  omitted,  by  Mr.  Webster,  in  the  spelling  lessons  of  his  old  P{x?llini:  Book  1 

The  omission  of  these  words  is  a  veo'  ffreat  defect,  as  most  of  them  are  very  imponanl  words,  and  in  general  ase  • 
these  classes  of  words  wereinserted  in  the  spellin?-booksof  Dilworthand  Perry.  In  consequence  of  the  fewnesses 
•words  in  Mr.  Web-ter's  spelling-book,  those  scholars  who  use  it  cannot  become  ?c<iuainted  with  one  half  of  the 
words  in  common  use.  either  in  their  orthography  or  pronunciation  :  and  ccnscqnently  the  scholar  will  find  words 
In  almost  cverv  sentence  of  his  reading  lessons,  with  the  onhotrraphy  or  pronunciation  of  which  he  is  wholly  unac- 
(juaintcd,  not  having  seen  them  in  his  sriclling  lessons  of  the  same  book. 

And  as.ain  ;  there  are  a  ereat  many  words  in  the  spelling  lessons  of  his  .Spelling  Book  which  are  not  in  his  die- 
ttonarv  published  in  1817,  "compiled  for  (he  use  of  common  .schools  in  the  United  States,"  of  course /n/ertrffd  to  b« 
used  with  his  Spellinir-Rook,  containing  these  words !  and  some  of  these  are  not  even  in  his  "  Compendlotu  DJe- 
tionary,"  published  in  I80fi ! 

Those  in  italick  are  not  in  the  "compendious  dictionary  :"  Acanthus  annunri.atc,  antibacehus.zpoBtoUcaA  apropm 
astrological,  fcfci,  bedchamber,  belle.slettre=,  belove.  bibliothecal,  bod<:e,  botanv.  cachexv,  c-anfharides  eanthfru* 
ca?itharis,  capuchin,  carle,  catechumen,  caucht,  charnade.  chamois,  chancre,  chenr,  chereril,  chevis,Vnce  chiroff- 
raphy,  chevauxdefrise,  chorography,  chromatic,  chronometer,  c!omb,  cogger,  cogitate,  cognlzor,  cognlzee,  conda* 

•  It  m.-vy  not  bo  improper  (o  slnte  here,  that  in  convfjticnre  of  the  pubIicftt!o»  «rif>:«  rp»i>tr  In  Ui«  Alhsny  Arru*.  Mr.  WehttT  >t)«»- 
rfoned  his  old  Snclline-Roolf,  i.rH  fmplore<l  Mr.  Anr'^n  Kly  lo  compil.-  a  u,nt  one,  whi-li  «ai  I'liblithH  mnre  thmi  tvo  year.  b»fore  tW 
oopy-nebt  of  the  oW  Rn»||inir-n.->nk  fitpfr-H,  (Sept.  I'j,  l<vil,)  ami  every  rflrrt  wan  made  lo  |.iir1i  it  into  .i«^.  That  Mr.  WVbKer  woujd 
not  have  pnhlished  n  nrw  SpellinE-Book,  hiul  nr.t  thP  rriiicii>mB  in  the  All'.mv  Arpit  Wtv  given  to  the  Dnblirk  \r  I  think  U.r\j  to  tw 
Jriferre'l  from  the  two  followinefiatenieni*  made  by  H  m  in  liu  AVVV.Al.  "  Ti  >  THE  PUBLIfTK,"  puhliihtd  in  N^w  Haven,  Mrrch   laas. 

Tbtu  .Mr.  Webster  remarked,  "  Mv  tables.  rfr-e<i.->llv  thow  nfirrepilar  »f  rd».  the  mo«  Impomnl  ol  alUbef  !M»eii,  are  (o  cnnnroctML 
and  to  nearly  compUlc.  THAT  TlfEY  rANVOT  ttK  IMI'RllVKD."  And  he  rem.rkf  fKn.her  "  My  Spcl!  rp-nook,  whi«h  Km  had 
an  nnparaHcled  sale,  and  his.  it  is  believed,  bud  a  very  eTien- ive  em-r<  in  fariliiatinf  the  ae<)Mnilion  of  lh«  Un«ua«e  bM  In  pnn»y1»» 
the  popular  proniincmtion  fmm  Tulfariiies— WIM,  nK  iDJrSTFn  (n«fthai  he  wp'iM  write  t  canaf  lo  t^e  written  a  «ew  nrei  »T 
•miforniiljr  witli  the  dictionar>'  in  pronnnciatinn."  Th«  pi^e^Iinff  remarti,  it  nrM  bf  rreo''»ei»<l,  wjn  pnb'.-b*d  bo«  .sr^tem  rwit^t* 
p«cnoiis4o  tie  pubtieat^n  of  the  e.;-=li<ii!«m  ir  tb»  Argnt. 


TyO  WEBSTER'S  AMERICAIn  SPELLI^'G-BOOK. 

»ive,  customary,  decrial,  disconca-n,  dost,  doth,  dnnceon,  entendre,  epidemical,  examen,Jlook,  fortsetn,  fmtehsui, 
jconti-ary  to  his  spelling-book, )/ym??i./o/y.'OTJ/J,  froze,  gibber,  gilt,  grown,  grew,  has,  hast,  hatn,  ]>.card,  him,  him- 
self, hii,  hithe,  iambus,  iinpnulent,  jagged,  kern,  knaggj',  kncic,  kmicp,  hiiii,  lain,  leggeJ,  iieve,  litho^rapl-.y,  log- 
KVilhrns.  lo7iger,  longest, inacilent,  \\\\n\e,  Ta.viX\\es\s,  meathe.  v.-^r/./',  i,i  Jiidncity,  mic»,  tmserableness,  Uioraacitv, 


moirn.nnga.cMy,  oc/unnj,  omniizcnous,  (contrary  to  hisspcii;:  ;.i  >'r.\iions,  overu-helviing,  ipikid,  paradigm, 

pedagogical,  perspiratori/,perspi:acit!/,  pljnth,  plethory,  po '._  .   ■.  i);0(\!cioi!^,  Tji'rhic.'iius,  ij\'::i),  ra- 

ker, r;:u,  rath,  reeve,  rl»omb,rig,sisli,  7zve??,  rode,  lOfjuelaiue,  (!•  ,-  .     .         .  '  i.'.n£r-book,)nnin!On,satt>»,  i'<J2,s",  segivi- 


citj',  Shaw,  sigil,  sought,  soirii,  jpUth,  spondee,  stiullnokler.  sqma!,  s.aM,  ,si lie,  siirii,  stronger,  syncope,  synecdoche 
synthesis,  synthetic,  tea£?ue,  taugiit,  tew,  thane,  theomachy,  theo.lolitc,  tiii.l,  t;ue-«Y,  throve,  took,  tost,  tribacchus 
tripliciiy,  Uochee,  urethra,  reg-fiflTir,  vert,  waif,  wages,  wast,  wherret,  vvhitster,  &c. 

CLxVSSIFICATION. 

In  Oie  ciassiiication  and  ai-Tingement  of  ■wcrds  for  spelling  lGssor\s,  Mr.  Webster's  bock  v/as.  nnqurj-tionaWy. 
far  supcriour  to  Dilworth's.  Mr.  Dilworth's  classiixation  andarrangen.cnt  merely  consisted  in  arranging  and 
classing  t!«e  monosyllables  accordini:  to  the  number  of  letters  contained  in  each  -word,  whethor  vowels  or  conso- 
nants ;"  and  the  words  of  more  than  one  syllab!.e  according  to  their  peculiar  accentuation  only :  wherdas,  Mr.  Web- 
ster not  only  arranged  the  words  according  to  their  pecunar  accentuation,  but  ciassed  them  agreeably  to  their  par- 
ticular vowel  or  consonant  sound? ;  as  long  a,  e,  i,  o,  n,  ic,  and  y;  short  a,  c,  i,  ii,  and  y ;  liat  a:  broad  a ;  c  i  laitl 
0,  when  sounded  like  «  short,  &c. :  the  designatioii  or  ciassiiication  of  the  ditterciit  sound?  of  th  ;  tlie  cla.<isincia5on 
of  the  words  in  which  c,  r  and  »■  are  sounded  like  s7; ;  cw  like  o  long;  s  and  z  like  zh;  i  like  y;  the  diiiereiH 
sounds  of  c/i ;  as,  c^  like  fc  and  s/i ;  §■  hard  lieforc  c,  i,i\nAy;  g  double  in  the  pronunciation,  though  single  in  tb« 
orthography ;  c  and  g  pronounced  like  s  and  j  at  the  end  of  syllables ;  in  sounded  after  ?i,  though  Vv'ritten  before  it ; 
a-Koundcd  like  gz  wlien  followed  by  an  accented  syllable  beginning  with  a  vowel  or  h;  irregular  words  not  com- 
prised in  the  foreijoing  fables;  and  words  of  the  same  sound,  liut  different  in  s])elling  and  sii-nification. 

1  shall  now  attempt  to  shov/ in  the  first  place  what  I  consider  defects  in  his  classification,  and  in  the  second 
place,  the  defective  arrangement  of  the  words  thus  defectively  ciassed.  Table  2,  and  3,  containing  the  first  mono- 
syllables in  which  the  scholar  must  be  exercised  after  learning  the  alphabet,  contain  many  words  in  which  (loid)ie 
vowels  and  consonants  are  exhibited ;  as  II  in  call,  Jill,  ss-  in  bless,  gg  in  egg,  bh  in  ei^,  ee  in  bleed.  &c.  s  like  z  a-s 
in  has,  nose,  spasm;  e  silent  in  hence,  mince ;  etc  in  brick;  tch  in /natch;  and'  a  large  number  of  words  in  the 
p?ural  form  in  which  s  is  sounded  like  z  ;  all  of  which  render  these  table.'?  the  most  duincult  lor  the  scholar  of  any 
m  the  book,  considering  his  capacity  when  introduced  to  them.  Table -2,  3,  and  i-2,  contain  many  vv-oids  uhiCii 
ore  spelled  differently,  though  proncur.ccd  alike,  which  cau^■es  great  perplexity.  This,  however,  will  be  taken 
notice  of  more  particularly  when  1  shall  review  Tabie53.  The  oblections  which  fhave  preferred  agai;ist  Tah.les 
sand  3,  are,  in  some  degree,  applicable  to  Tables  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  To,  11;  though  the  most  prominent  cineciion 
appears  to  be  this,  that  they  do  not  contain  a  sufficient  number  of  easy  words  fo.-tlie  scholar's  exerci.-e.  prevl-iis 
to  his  introduction  to  Table  12,  and  the  Tables  14.  IS,  19,  -jX,  23,  24,  26,  and  28,  wi.ich  arc  coitijiosed  of  words  oi  more 
riifTicult  orthography  and  pronunciation.  Of  these  tables  I  shall  take  particular  ni  tice  liercaftor,  in  t  eat- 
ing of  orthography  and  pronunciation.  In  the  la.'^t  part  cf  Table  12,  ana  in  'iable  37,  the  different  scunds  of 
(h  are  exhibited,  yet  he  has  inserted  hathnnt]  thvn^p  in  Table  2,  where  tl-.f  y  should  not  be  aSrccabiv  to  Ids  system 
of  classification,  and  again  in  Table  12 ;  Tables  20,  34,  and  S5  comprise  words  in  Vi'hich  c,  s  and  ?  have  tl  e  soiir.d  of 
8h:  in  these  lessons  the  terminations  sion,  tion,  cial.  ciav,  cioxis,  tiovs,  ua'e,i\nAtiute,  are  interniii.Kled  in  sr,ch  a 
Bianner  that  the  scholar  cannot  determine,  v.'lien  required  to  spell  any  word  contained  in  tlicse  l-ssoiis,  wiieiher  to 
usec,?or  s.  the  sound  being  the  same;  a.5 pension, mention,  snsvicion.&c:  and  it  appe;!v-  .  -.  i:.  ;'  i:  ■,'  {i.e  words 
in  which  t,  c  and  s  have  the  sound  of  sh,  should  be  classed  in  separate  lessons,  for  tne  -  :  .    '.'..-.li  he  has 

classed  the  words  in  which  c7i  has  the  sound  of  s/iandfc;  as  we  learn  thi^ir  pi-'munciafic;  i  :. 'ii.  ^n^i,(•M!d 

wclearn  Ihe  orthography  of  the  otiicr  words  referred  to.  Pa^ros  47,  and  7l,  he  lias  censtin  ..:.■:  s.i.:.:a!i>i/  ii\i,ienA 
of  placing  them  in  theJesson  where  s  has  the  sound  otsh,  neither  has  he  told  us  in  his  hook  th:it  «  hys  the  ^■ound 
of  s*,  in  tliese  words.  Table  £2  he  has  a  class  of  words  ending  in  ore  unaccented,  and  on  p.  47.  he  lias  hcll'.ics 
where  it  should  not  be,  and  atrain  in  this  lesson.  Oi.  narre  03  he  has  itsiu-^y,  ar.d  63  JiC  iias  im^-prision,  instead  o£ 
Insertiii'r  them  in  Table  33,  in  which  s  has  tie  sound,  o:  zh.  where  they  shouid  be.  In  'I'aWn  36,  lie  sfsys.  i  befrire-Ji 
vowel  sounils  like  y  at  the  'oeginnin;;  of  words  ;  nr.^i  co.:t  adicts  his  rule  in  the  thir.l  word  by  p.  Oiiounciuir  sclJi  t 
snl-gtr,  and  in  the  same  column  anxmis.  f/'?v-s/;?o.-.'  iflv  o.i  i  not  ihese  words  have  been  p;;'ccd  in  T:\ble"47,  wiih 
the  irregular  words'/  And  farther,  if^-'io  have  the  tound  of  hfhu  in  cnyioits,  a.-  he  las  given  it,  sheuhi  ihcy  not  in 
connexion,  defluzion,  flexion,  fnxio)i,  liave  the  same  sound,  althouirh  i.e  lias  i-.ot  so  pionounccd  il.im  •?  in  paue 
27  is /larpsic/tOT-d,  page  61  arc/!i7ec?,  paire  73  t/'imf?a»,  instead  of  placing  them  in  Tab.e  38,  in  which  eh  have  the 
sound  of  fc ;  and  on  page  14,  of  the  analysis,"  he  s:iys,  "  ch  liave  the  i:n.i:l!sh  tound  as  in  charvi ;  except  in  the  cSih 
and  39th  Tables  :"  consequently,  we  must,  agreeably  to  the  above  niie,  and  his  arianaenient,  proi.ounce  thtin 
harpsetshord,  artshetekt,  tshristshan.  Table  40  is  composeil  of  words  in  wlr.ch  s  is  Ijard  brioie  e,  i,  and  y ;  uvai  we 
miaht,  therefore,  reasonably  expect  that  all  of  the  v.-onls  of  this  class  would  he  giv.  n  in  this  les.-on  oidy  ;  yi.-t  wc 
find  on  i»ge  34,  geese,  page  I7,getam[  giy,  page  19.  g/ft,  page  40,  girt,  and  acs'.in.  in  this  lesson  ;  and  on  -pjte  17, 
gilt,  page  24,  misgive,  page  28,  Leginning.  where  they  sh.otnd  not  be  agreeably  to  his  classification,  and  which  aie 
not  in  this  lesson  at  all.  At  the  close  of  Table  40,  he  has  ?:ven  12  words  which  he  says  arc  proiuunced  as  ti  ou^h 
they  were  written  with  doubles;  and  instead  of  in.-jerlingall  of  tliewordsof  this  class  In  this  ksiton  as  he  ^hoiUd 
agreeably  to  his  system  of  classiiiciition,  he  h:is  1;.'  \\..\-Ai\  m  v  f:  .'s  in  i!.'-  iii-oc-ri.n ._'  je^rons  c:  liii-^  cl,i.<s,  winch 
ought  to  have  been  in  this  lesson;  as,  pairo  '.o  -  I       ■  r, ,  dandle, 

gingle,  language,  languor,  mangle,  Oiiingle.  \  •    .  -  ;* .  puge'i  l, 

8iM£'M/ari7y;  making  more  »70f  classed  than  I.  -.  on. s  ought 

not  to  bo  classed  with  the  12  because  the  g' is  lioi  ivM.v.iv.i  ii.  l, €.<■:•/■  ...  i  ;...;!.,-... .  'i.  ■;>  ....  1. 1  ;i>;t'r  classes 
img-w's^ with  the  12,  as  it  is  followed  by  ziJ  luTabiu  i.j.  h  is prououaiced  boime  «',  though  w  riiu  u  a'.-ti  it.  At  ihe 
close  of  this  lesson  he  has  whore,  irhole,  vho,  irhom,  whoo-v.  and  vhose.,  with  the  following  note :  "  In  the  lbll'.iWr 
Ing,  with  their  compounds  and  derivatives,  tu  is  silent."  If  the  7t'  ho  ;  iloi.t  in  these  words,  then  it  is  i.ot  sounded 
fl^irer  the  h;  why  then  are  these  words  in  tins  less,on  ?•  In  'fable  4!,.  '.  o  ^  ,;  '  >  :.;,d  oi  gz.  V»'hy  are  not  uxorious, 
page  66,  and  auxiliary,  pajro 91,  in  this  lesson  t    See  letter  X,  Wei.  •  is.    'iable  47  drapri^es  int;guiar 

words  not  in  the  forci-'oing  tables.    Why  are  not  fwe,  pacre '33,  o«C'\  i  /  /•  and  orrt.rv<3«,'s,  page  91.  <•/;<.'/."««», 

page  97,  inserted  in  this  lesson,  as  they  are  irregular  words,  instoad  i  .  i  i  ■;';,,  h-itomof  pages  with  referoces? 
Again,  why  were  not  tliose  words  v.'hich  contain  two  difilreiu  pccniiav  c  "isoi.ant  .'ounds  in.'icried  wiiii  liie  in-egn- 
lar  words  also,  for  they  do  not  properly  belong  in  any  other  lesson,  as  only  one  iiccaliar  sound  is  now  noifd  :  for 
instar.-re;  p.age  91  in  the  word  avxUiary  he  has  noted  the  ?ound  of  i  like?',  but  ho  has  not  noted  the  sound  of  x  like 
gz ;  p.  93  the  sound  of  th  is  noted  in  clothinr.  but  not  the  sound  of  i  like  y ;  p.  95  the  sound  of  cli  like  k  is  noted  in 
chxunrlion,  but  not  the  sound  cf  i  lilvey,  <fcc.  <.tc. 

Table  53,  page  145,  conlnms  "  inords  of  the  same  sound  lut  different  in  spelling  and  signiliration."  As  thc^e 
words  areUiken  from  the  dictionary,  this  lesson  ousht,  undoubiedly,  to  have  immediately  snccecdcd  table  47,  paye 
112,  instead  of  being  placed  a//c?' the  namca  of  i  oisons,  pliic.es,  &-c. ;  but  Mr.  Webster  probably  placed  It  in  this 
manner  in  poli'eness  to  INIr  Dilwoith.  aulflfcr  of  t!:i-  losson,  vlio  h-  d  it  thusar:-oi''_od. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  important  lesson?  coniained  in  any  !-peUing-book;  for.  unless  these  words  are  associated 
with  their  respective  distinctive  definitions,  it  is  impossible  fii.the  scholar  to  bpcomo  acquainted  with  their  (.r.hog- 
raphy,  their  protiunciation  \)eins  alike.  From  the  title  of  this  lesson,  and  its  evident  im.ooitance  in  a  speliiiig- 
book,  we  might  retisonably  expect  it  to  contain  all  the  common  words  of  this  class  in  the  huiiruiice;  that  nmic  "ot 
IhcR?  words  should  bo  inserted  in  the  i)vecodinir  lessons  wl.ovo  the  distirrtivc  i!r  I'nitiOns  a;o  i.ci  i  ivi  n  ;  that  their 
pro;iunciation  should  be  given  in  this  le.~son  ;  and  that  no  words  shoidd  bo  here  ohisscd  which  ;iie  not  pkonoun- 
ced  alike;  yet,  this  lesson  (Table  53)  is  defective  in  all  the  above,  and  in  soinc  other  particular!^,  as  will  l^o 
fully  shown. 

First ;  there  are  acknowledzcd  by  Mr.  Webster,  either  in  his  fi  oUing-book  or  dictionary,  about  ae^ien  hvnarrd  iit>u 
eighty  words  of  this  class,  vet  he  has  classpd  in  this  lesson  only //r/'c? /i2/»K/*'(i  «»(/' /loo,  of  which  A",  sajs  two  or 
more  are  sounded  alik'-,  not  )?ff//in  the  i  iiLomifi.  Secondly;  there  are  1S6  of  the.-eS0'2  inteiming  e.l  in  the  piece- 
dins  spelling  lessons,  where  their  distinctive  dofinilions  are  not  given,  which,  as  a  matter  of  piuoencc,  ought  not  to 
»je  inserted  nrfce  to  the  exclusionof  other  words  in  common  use:  thirdly;  there  are  in  the  preceding  >i:clliiig 
lessons  one  hundred  a7?(i/a/r  words  two  of  which  are  pionounccd  alike,  but  which  are  not  Cinssed  in  this  table 
f83)  neither  can  the  scholar  learn  their  distinctive  defir.iiious  in  any  of  Webster's  spelling  lessons ;  as  c:t  sit,  rap 
ttra}!,  rod  read,  («short,)  hall  haul,  dire  dyer,  mote  moat,  fore  four,  brake  break,  mule  mewl,  maze  maize,  slay  sley, 


WEBSTER  .S  AMERIC/OJ  SPELLING-BOOK.  31 

»!tralt  Etreight,  praise  prays, boise  bays,  iray  trey,  bo  bee,  ye  yea,  seal  ceil,sliear  shire  (sirycr  not  in  tiie  spelling- 
boo'.c.)  tier  tear,  need,  kueaii,  seem  seaai,  leaf  lief,  feet  teat,  reek  wreak,  uiieu  me.m  ;  queen  quean,  reeve, 
reave,  leave  lieve,  freeze  frieze,  liigh  liie,  clime  climb,  siov/  sloe,  poie  poll,  boll  bowl,  hoar  whoie,  known  none, 
moan  mown,  hoinie  home,  .slew  slue,  ark  arc,  bollbonlt,  la.st  laste,  hooj)  wlioop,  ooze  ou.^e,  uerce  torse,  verge  virge, 
boy  buoy,  throw  throe,  with  withe,  weather  wether,  wheal  wiieel :  Fourthly ;  there  are  al.so  in  the  precediiig 
lessons A/"f7/-»ey'i/i  words  each  of  which  has  another  word  correspoiuiiii?  in  sound  in  Mr.  \Vebster's  dictionary,  not 
one  of  wliich  is  in  this  table  (.5;;.)  or  in  any  otlior  sii^Uum  ie.-,.~on  uf  his  1kk>.:.  cou-oqiiently  the  scholar  cannot,  from 
the  use  of  Webster's  .".pi^Uiug  les.sons,  become  acquainted  wit!:  tl..  .,,,,-  .,,:,.  .,■.  ,  r,,  '  :ve  delinlUons  of  tl»e/i/iry- 
seveii  words  correspondini;  in  sound  with  these ;  as,  but,  wa  r,  pencil,  calendar,  bay, 

day,  hay,  wail,  wain,  gaii?^,  bait,  gait,  sioak,  kneel,  peer,  'i-acli,  rhyme,  stile,  toll, 

pour,  bloat,  lo.ai,  port,  TiOu'l.  Cnv,  Vivv.'.  j  ':a!i,  Inri'i,  v.t'"-";  ,    :',   :.-,  •;.  ton^-Nj,  rout, 

sin?te,  subtle,  coun-ellc/i'.  '  one 

hundred  words  of  this  r .  ni- 

ferently,  not  one  of  whi.  n-- 

book,  con.sequently  the  .-'  ...    .-ub-. 

ster's  spelling  lessons,  inuU.-r  ■.viU  no  even  iL-.ixii  ii:;ir  th.-r.-  .:i  tiie  laiiuii.i,"j  ,  ;^~  cr'^ck  acik,  goar 

gore,  place  plaice,  bell  belle,  d:un  damn,  marshal  martial,  ch  ■:^c.  &c. :  fcixiidy ;  as  Mr.  Web.stcr  has 

not  given  the  pronunciation  of  the  words  iir  tabic  3 J,  wc  0:1::!.  i  !im  book  liow  h^  intended  a  number 

of  these  chesses  should  be  pronounced  ;  as,  alt;ir  alter.  1     ■  "    '      "  cnttirvcentauryj 

lesson  lessen.  meUil  mettle,  pear  pjre.  re.st  v/re-t,  &r.  ■  .  ,  •■  \',"oids  of  the 

same  sound,"  yet  he  has  not  siven  tlif  iJ:Onuncratoi,  .  ia  tins  or  any 

other  spellinsles.son  in  his  book!     Sijventhly;  taenj  >  ,   ho  ha:i  classea 

only  tioo  words  of  similar  sound  wiieii  tiiere  are  f/Wr ;  ;.i ...  ...,;■  I).c;ioniu-y  ;  as,  by 

buy.  iif'ur  pare,  seen  scene,  sent  .scont.  too  two,  vein  van",  y^  ne.  cent,  to,  vain,  and 

ewe:  LiL'hthly  ;  there  is  a  numlier  of  words  c!  a-.soi  in  thi.- ■  ..hlci  evidently  are  not, 

anil  should  not  be ;  as,  centaur>'andce!Uuc>-,  chroniiM;     ,  ...:.  principal  and  principle; 

and  the  five  following  words  are  not  so  spelled  even  1:  a  ii^c  .-ease  here  piven,)  fellon, 

aeignnr,  sLoar,  and  vise :  Ninthly  ;  many  of  the  deS:;  ..  aie  extremely  incorrect  ana 

awkward,  .and  at  variant;  v.'ith  the  dctini'ions  of  the  i-nr- :  as  oMar,  for  sjicrifice  ; 

hier,  to  carry  the  df>a  i  ;  burro:'-,  fc-  r:"  '    •    •  '  ■  ^-c.  f^j- 1;,^  .Jcfinilion  Of 

which,  sec  Webster's  Dctirniry.    i\  ■  ■  [^^  undoubtedly,  very 

much  indebted  to  Mr.  Dilwo.:!..  :i>  n.  ■>. 

A.'cain  ;  Mr.  V.'th  •  ■; ' ,    ;   .  '  ho  h.-^s  not  taken  notice 

of  the  words  v.-hii  1  .    i  not  informed 

us  at  all  in  liis  s  •  .nsr  lessons,  nor. 

even  tol  I  us  that  •  i,y  Mr.  Webster 

in  his  Dictionary,  £._....  '^rsiiin^  lessons 

of  his  spellin^'-book,  aal  U.:j..o  c.as.-iricaiion  or 

peculiar  use  in  the  lansuisre.    i  ifs.;ons  witli  the 

different  accentuation  notevl :  as  nnri  59 ;  invalid 

26  and  98  :  lhe/OM77eert  followiiii;  \. ui.i>  ;i.i,  :  .,  we  learn 

from  his  speilins-book  that  they  ever  slioiiid  ii  j  lilant,  im- 

press, p.  24  ;  project,  protest,  cor.cert,  p.  2-5 ;  rei  .  53  ;  'pre- 

cedent, p.  loi ;  of  theremainins  63  words  of  ti;;,  .,;i  foi  ever 

remain  ipnorant,  unless  he  sliall  refer  to  :inyiv;  ut',.  r  -o  irc  •,  il:  m  \\'i  iisfe.'  ;s  ^j"  ,,i::i;-l.iuk,  j.s  ..hijiit,  frequent,  mi- 
nute, reuil,  dicest,  export,  import,  record,  prolix,  produce,  cement,  accent,  insult,  extract,  transfer, contest,  contract 
contrast,  converse,  object,  attribute,  august.  <fcc.  &e.  are  not  in  anvof  ilie  spelling' lessons  of  his  book  !  Ajrain  ;  there 
are  many  words  differently  prw(o/<HC€(Z  wlien  diiTerentlv  applied,  none  of  which  are  cia.ssed  in  his  sijellin''-book 
Some  of  these  words  are  in.serted  and  interminsled  in  the  different  spellin?  le.s-ons  with  the  different  jironuncia- 
tion ;  as  tear,  pajjes  32  and  33 ;  lead,  p.  33  and  H7 ;  use,  p.  ct3 :  mov.-.  pj).  31  and 4'J ;  saw,  40 and  lis ;  otJiers  are  insert- 
ed with  only  one  pronunciation  noted  in  any  of  the  lessons,  neither  can  we  learn  from  his  spelling-book  thai 
they  ever  should  he  differently  pronounced ;  put,  p;ise  17 ;  wind,  p.  18 ;  c;o.;e,  p.  3J ;  house,  p.  40,  abuse,  p.  ol,  &c.  but 
there  are  others  of  this  class,  which  are  not  in  any  of  his  £i>elling  lessons,  as  mouse,  disuse,  excuse,  raven,  tarry, 
diffuse,  lower,  &c.  &c. 

Although  there  are  obvious  defects  in  the  ctes'?/:^."  '"->.'  of  t:  -i:e  mnsonant  sounds  which  Mr.  Webster  has  notea 
m  his  anahjns.  y.it  his  spelIini'<1ir.ok  is  still  ni  as  he  has  nor  noted  or  cla.ssed  many  particu- 

lar consonant  sounds,  of  which  whole  cla.sse.^  1  itcrspersed  through  his  snellin^  lessons.    Ol 

theselshtill  take  noiice  v.-licu  treatinsof  his  J..  ....acn. 

it  will  no  doubt  be  readily  nnrniivt.  th.n'  next  '■i  imp.-rtni.re  t^.  the  jo-orirr  '•Irsoi^^cation  of  words  intended  foi 

spelling  le5.sons,  cmrainiii.' ihi  •           ,  is  the  due  cr;aw.^«?j^nr  of  the 

words.thus  classed,  a.'-uniii,  ;  ;.iid  pronunciatinn  are  learned. 

Immediately  .'=urce(ili!r_'  iiio  ;.  r  the  scholar's  tirst  "xercise  In 

spelUn?:  and  at  thecIo.<eof  ih<          _            _  ■■'■■'■■'>  ft' "^  "^'n-oi  t'romtha 

singular  and  of  other  dcrivaUvci.'    As  tl:S£j  .  '  -  orthajra- 

phy  or  pronunciation  of  which  the  scholar  is  '  ;i  inserted; 

here,  more  particularly  as  there  are  no  «crn  re- !.  -  =  nor  is 

«in  italickat  thecndor  the  pln>-"'    •  '  '       ■     •  ':  i  6 

7,  8,  9,  10,  andll,cnnUiiniii'i  vv-.  .'.,j^ 

noted;  then  i.'ib'.e  I-.*,  coniiiinih  ;  ;,^_ 

lesson  of  "  Examples  of  the  foi  v.       :,-r 

Inserted  r^roles-sons  of  this  ki;i  ,;:,  i,,.  ,.  hrr -iinlar 

lesson, there  are  no  ti?iires  to  ,|.  ,.rinted  in  i-alick,  as"  in 

other  les.sons,  except  the  ir  m  .  ,.f  two  svllables,  more 

difficult  than  the  preceding;  an  ■'"■ft  6r  priniuives 

pluralnminsoftwosynablrs,"  ice.    Mr.  vVc'uoicr  h,.  ••:ers  to  acn-.te  the 

I*ronunciatinn  of  these  words;  and.  what  renders  th;  :  <,-),,  i.ir  is  th-^ 

a  great  part  of  the.^  words  is  notin  the  other  siKillin  -  :  ■    ,] ' .  _i\  .'|,'  'or  in 

■webster'.s  Dictionary,  consequently  ir  cannot  be learn.M  M will  ....1 1     ,  ,;,.  '            ■•  . '■^s 

of  three,  four  and  five  .sylhdiles,  in  which  llie  ;iccentualuii,  \\,\\\l  sc.ui.Ay.  '..^r 

prominentdefects  in  th.se  and  the  preredinLr  tabl>-s,  are  in  orlhc'raphv  ;.,  ..., 

notice  of  herf-afr.'V.     Ti'.'   ^    :-^.  "':.  ^;;.  '  !,  ;-.   ,;-.  ::.  >-.  r..>.   m,   :•.  ■■-.                                                                ].'q 

peculiar  m  ^ 
s and  z >o 

and  J/;  c  ;'. 

and  r  pro  .,[ 
are  not  alia,, 

•words  in  whicli  ,{ 

»A,  and  «  the  son..  ,^ 

which  t  has  th^^  ,„3 

sound  of  nh.  t:il  '  •    |,1q 

40  ;  h  propcnc-  •  '  ,^ 
those  words  in  v- 

«/i,  table  39  ;  yet  ■ ,  of 

teen"Eja//j/>'.f-  .  ^  jy'lr 

AVebster  has  si \  -  j  asV.oi 

more  th;m  one  lu  ;  .  ,  ..    .  , ,  ..   .;  ,.^not  be 

iearned  from  this  bool:.  At  the  clci- c:  ihic  t..llv.  |,.  ill, :.;  a  i.la.>i  of  •  C'i»/i, ■-..(. '.a  U'ori.-."  In  iii..->  l.^t  an  Uuidtax 
Charleatcnpn,  and  Gtorsumtn.    If  the  above  ba  compound  words,  why  arc  oat.  umdiord^  p.  n,  and  Jamutoum  p'' 


ike 


»  WEBSTER'S  AMERICAN  SPELLENG-BOOK. 

130,  (and  a  number  of  similar  words  in  the  other  lessons,)  also  called  compound  words,  and  classed  with  these  ♦ 
Tables  49,  49,  50  and  51,  comprising:  29  ptiges.  contain  the  names  of  persons,  places,  rivers  lakes,  &c.    All  of  these 
words  are  here  given  without  any  classuication,  relative  to  the  vowel  or  consonant  sounds  ;  suid  neither  rules  nor 
figures  are  given  to  denote  their  pronunciation.    This  defect  in  tlie  classification  and  pronunciation  of  tl)is  large 
number  of  words,  has  caused  great  diversity  in  their  pronunciation  among  teachers,  and  has  greatly  embarrassed 
them  and  their  pupils.    Thus  we  shall  find,  on  examination,  that  of  the  lessons  intended  for  spellins,  foriy  pages 
contain  words,  to  represent  the  pronunciation  of  wliich.  Mr.  Webster  has  not  given  any  classification,  figure  or         ^ 
rules.    Many  of  these  words  are  sj'elled  differently  from  the  Geograpliics,  Gazetteers,  and  Histories  of  the  present        J 
day,  as  it  seems  o-ident  that  air.  Webster  has  not  paid  much  aiteuUon  to  ihnix  correction  since  he  first  published  his        a 
spelUng-book  i  ^ 

ORTHOGRAPHY. 

I  shall  now  take  notice  of  the  orthography  of  Mr.  Webster's  Spelling-Book  ;  particularly  as  it  regards  a  compari- 
son of  it  with  Mr.  Webster's  Dictionaries,  published  in  ISOGand  1317,  and  Dilworth's  Spelling-Bcok.  As  Mr.  Web- 
ster has  not,  in  his  Spellins-Book,  professed  to  follow  any  particular  Standard,  but  has  publi.^hed  a  dictionarv  him- 
self since  the  first  publication  of  his  spelling-book,  to  the  orthography  of  which  we  might  reasonably  expect  him  to 
conform  his  sijcllingbooii ;  it  will  not,  [  presume,  be  considered  injustice  in  me  to  show  wherein  the  orthography  i 
of  his  spelling-book  and  dictionary  is  at  variance  ;  and  also  to  show  that  much  of  this  erroneous  spelling  was  ] 
evidently  copied  by  Mr.  Webster  from  Dilworth's  spelling-book,  as  many  of  these  words  are  spelled  in  Webster's  J 
»pellin"  book  as  they  are  in  Dilworth's,  contrary  to  Webster's  dictionary.  About  twenty  years  or  more  after  the  j 
first  publication  of  his  spelling-book,  Mr.  Webster  published  "  A  compendious  Dictionary  of  tlie  English  Language." 
This  was  in  the  year  1S06.  In  the  year  1817,  Mr.  Webster  published  '  A  Dictionarv  of  the  Ensriish  Langxjage  ;  com- 
piled for  tlie  use  of  Common  Schools  in  the  United  States."  With  these  two  dictionaries  I  have  couii»ared  his  spel- 
ling-book, and  have  found  the  following  words  spelled  differently.  The  words  in  itiUicks  are  spelled  in  Dilworth's 
as  in  Webster's  spelling-book,  contrary  to  both  of  the  editions  of  Webster's  dictionary  referred  to.  As,  trissvllable 
p.  10  i  chace  p.  18  ;  dyer,  julep  p.  21  ;  faggot,  /tansel,  pcnnel,  sadler,  sallad  p.  22  ;  taller,  jocky.  spinet  p.  -'3  :  impale 
p.  24 ;  offence,  subtract  p.  25 ;  ecstacy  p.  26  ;  empcuinel  p.  28  ;  epitome  p.  30  ;  apostacy  p.  31  ;  caliman:o  p.  32  ; 
balse,  maize  p.  33  ;  doat,  holme,  show,  sluice  p.  35  ;  clench,  niche,  rince,  boult,  moult,  ciinnb  yt.  36;  sumnch,  laste, 
swash,  fosse,  mosq^ue,  launch,  scoat  p.33  ;  bourn,  ouse,  croup,  ton  p.39:  ionl,grey,  skein,  streight,  sponge  p.40;  thowl, 
thwak,  loth  p.  41 ;  meethe,  though,  seethe  p.  42  ;  woo  p.  44  ;  gnoman  or  gnomon,  heinous,  ancle  p.  46  ;  hin- 
drance, phrenzy  p.  47;  satchel,  cobltr,  frolic,  goslui  p.  48  ;  h:iiloe,  verjuice  p.  49  ;  finesse,  quadrille  p.  52;  vulture, 
Straight  p.  56:  enwrap  p.  58;  cimetar,  definite  p.  59;  epaulette,  hypocrite,  jessamine,  libertine,  mackerel,  paroxism 
p.  60  ;  almanac,  quarantine,  roquciaur  p.  61  ;  achievment  p.  63  ;  malecor-tent  p.  64  :  catastrophe,  parishioner,  ajKK- 
trophc,  chnse  p.  67;  vergaloop.  70  ;  connnemmonition  p.  75  ;  encumber,  thresh  p.  77  ;  benumb  p.  7S  and  167  ;  en- 
snare, suitor,  tipler  p.  81  ;  abscision  p.  84  ;  negociate  p.  86  ;  noviciate  p.  88  ;  laquey  p.  89 ;  behaviour,  connexion 
ptnictillio  p.  91  ;  enthral,  etherial  p.  93 ;  burthen,  lether,  carcase  p.  94  ;  cholic,  alchymy,  chamelion,  chalibeate  p.  95 
bombasin,  buccmier  p.  97  ;  twigsin,  noL'iren,  biggenp.  99;  inuigiue  p.  lOl  ;  whu'rr  p.  102  ;  bailor,  payor,  mcthoa- 
ize  p.  109;  batteau.  women  p.  112  ;  avoirdupois  p.  113  ;  bass  {a  long)  p.  145  ;  fellon  p.  146  :  seignor,  shoar,  vise, 
poise  p.  148  ;  sa-j.  stile  p.  150  ;  molasses,  cyder  j).  154  ;  beach  (a  tree)  p.  155  ;  recompencep.  I60,  &c. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  therein  a  number  of  words  which  are  spelled  diffeiently  in  the  different  lessons  of  Web- 
ster's spelling-book,  and  are  spelled  in  one  manner  only  in  his  dictionary,  as,  pturc  19,  dote  35  doat,  p:\se  18.  cliace 
too  chase,  page  19,  rinse  36  riuco,  page  20,  wo  44  woe,  page  21,  brier  92  briar,  page  33,  m;uze  153  muiz,  page  40,  streight, 
page  56,  straight,  pages  39.  50.  51,  clioose,  67,  C8,  chuse,  page  48,  frolic  107  frolick,  page  91,  connexion' 96  coimection, 
page  PI.  seignior  l48~seignor,  which  is,  undoubtedly,  a  very  great  defect. 

I  think  It  will  appear  evident  to  every  person  on  the  perusal  of  the  preceding  cx)mparison,  that  the  orthography  of 
Mr.  Webster's  spelling  book  is  very  defective,  and  that  :\Ir.  Webster  has  net  pixid  that  attention  to  the  improvemem  3 

and  correction  of  his  book,  which  he  ought,  considering  the  extensive  r.atronage  he  has  received  from  the  American         ■ 
puhlick.  -1 

Mr.  Webster,  in  the  preface  prefixed  to  his  dictionary,  published  m  1817.  observed,  "  It  is  very  desirable  that  a  1 

uniform  orthography  may  prevail  among  the  citizens  of  the  United  States.  This  can  never  be  Uie  atse  while  they 
use  a  v.irietv  of  English  books,  which  do  not  agree  in  spelling ;"  yet  the  iHctionary,  to  which  these  remarks  are  pro- 
fixed,  disagrees  with  his  spelling-book,  which  was  revised  imd  published  the  sa?fic  year,  (1817,)  in  i)ie  orthography 
of  all  the  words  noted  above!  and  the  same  words  were  also  contradictory  in  tlie  iliciionary  published  by  him  in 
1806,  and  his  sprlline-book  then  in  use  :  and  farther,  his  dictionary  published  in  1817  differs  in  orthography  from 
the  one  he  published  in  IS06.  as  much  as  any  two  English  dictionaries  extant. 

It  is  certainlj-  of  the  utmost  importance  that  correct  or  unifomi  orthography  should  exist  in  the  sj)ellin£rb(:pk  and 
dictionarv.  for  the  habits  of  spelling  which  we  acquire  from  them  remain  with  us  througli  lite.  This  is  so  evidently 
a  fact  that  bv  observation  we  shiiU  find  that  the  words,  which  are  spelled  in  Webster's  spelling-book,  contrao'  to 
Webster's  dictionary,  or  those  of  Johnson  and  Walker,  are  spelled  in  this  erroneous  manner,  iioi  only  in  most  of 
the  new.spapers  of  the  day,  but  in  many  of  the  writings  of  our  most  distinguished  scholars  and  statesmen,  who  ob- 
tained iheir  first  knowledge  of  these  words  from  Mr.  Webster's  book. 

I  shall  now  ei  ve  an  exiJOsition  of  the  contradictonj  orthography  oHYxe  two  editions  of  his  dictionar^^  publ  ished  in  IS.16 
and  1817 ;  but  as  the  hmits  of  this  review  will  not  permit  me  to  show  all  of  this  class  I  shall  confins  the  exposition 
princii)allv  to  the  words  which  are  contained  in  his  s-peiling-book,  for  the  two  followine  reasons :  First ;  many  of 
these  wonts  were  s))clled  m  his  dictionarj'  (of  I8O6)  as  they  were  in  the  spell in^r- book,  differently  from  the  dictiona- 
ry published  in  1817,  and  the  others  agreeahly  to  it ;  so  that  in  his  dictionary  publl.^hrd  in  1817,  these  woras  which 
agreed  with  his  spelling-book,  in  his  dictioiiaiy  (1806)  are  changed,  and  disagree  with  it ;  and  those  wl-.ich  disagreed 
with  his  spelling-book,  in  his  dictionary  (I8O6)  are  also  changed,  and  agree  with  it,  while  the  orthocrranhy  of  his 
siwlling-book  has  remained  the  same;  during  the  couruer-reoolutinn  of  it  in  his  two  dictionaries  alluded  tor 
SecondTv  ;  some  of  these  words  agne  with.  Walker's  ortl^Oirniphy  in  AVebster's  dictionary  published  in  1806,  and 
others  with  that  of  1817.  In  almost  every  Ciise.  in  which  he  disairices  in  his  spoil  in?  book  with  his  dictionaries,  anrf 
agrees  with  Dilworth's  spelling-book,  and  in  which  he  disagrees  In  his  dicfionary,  isi7,  with  that  of  isus,  he  agrees 
with  Walker!  who:^  ortho::rdphy  i\n(\  pronunciation  he  has  treated  with  contempt  whenever  he  has  spoken  of 
them '  [See  the  preface  to  liis  dictionarj'.  published  in  1806,  p.".ge  11 ;  and  his  apjieal  "  To  the  -ptillick,"  published  at 
New  Haven.  March,  1826.) 

The  fo'lowiiig  words  form  a  part  of  tliis  class  ;  the  first  spelling  of  the  word  is  agieeably  to  the  edition  of  the  di> 
tlonarv,  ISO6;  "and  the  latter,  that  of  1817:  abatable,  abatc:ible:  abridgment,  abridgement;  acknowledgment,  ac- 
knowledgement ;  luddecamp,  aldecamp ;  allege,  allescable,  alleged,  alledge,  alledgeable,allcdged  ;  appnsit,  apposltlv 
apposltness,  apriosite,  appositely,  ani)ositeness  ;  a.^signer,  assignor;  blamable,  blamableness,  blam:ibly,  blameahle. 
blameableness,  hlameably;  brimful,  brimfull ;  buccaneer,  bucannecr;  callico,  calico;  corselet,  corslet:  crernisclc. 
crepu<!cule,  (differently  pronounced  also;)  crossexamin,  crosse.xamine ;  curvilinear,  curvillinear;  determin,  de- 
termine; di.^ciplin,  discipline;  enrolment,  enrollment ;  entei-prise,  enterprize;  envelope,  envelop;  examin,  exa- 
mine- handfull  handtul;  havock,  havoc  ;  he;idach,  headache;  heartach.  heartache  1  jewellery,  jewelrv;  mcdicin, 
medicine;  oppo'sit,  opposite;  nerquisit,  perquisUe;  pneumatics,  pnumatlcs ;  prophesy  (noun,)  prophecy;  redout, 
r«doutable,  redoubt,  redoubtable ;  requisit,  requisitly,  requisitness,  requisite,  requisitcly,  requisiteness ;  sepulcher, 
sepulchre;  tenon,  tennon  ;  unblamable,unblameable  ;  windlas,  windlass;  woollen. woolen;  woolline.«:.-5.  wooliness, 
*c.  &c.  AS  the  preceding  words,  when  used  by  Mr.  Webster  in  defining  other  wonls  in  the  same  dictionarv,  are 
spelled  as  they  are  where  their  accent  and  definition  are  given,  he  c;innot  with  proi)riety  denominate  them  crrours 
<n  accident  or  of  the  prin-ters :  for  inst;mce;  diction:iry  1SC6,  Argument,  rea,-on  alleged ;  1SI7,  reason  cllcdactl; 
1806  Canvars,  \o  examin.  I'^u  w  examine;  1806.  Consider,  to  eramm,  1817,  to  examine;  1806,  Defective,  6/a/72a*.'c, 
1817  blameahle;  is<06  Medicate,  to  tincture  with  medicins,  1917,  to  tincture  with  medicines,  &c. 

I  liave  l)eforc  referred  to  Mr.  Webster's  rem;irks  in  the  preface;  to  his  dictionary,  (180«,  page  8.)  relative  to  the  "  pal- 
pable ah^riirdities  and  preposterous  anomalies"  in  other  dictionaries :  but  I  presume  ever?-  candid  reader  will  admit, 
after  having  examined  the  following  exposition,  and  what  has  already  l)een  shown  of  hi^  orthography,  that  the  pre- 
ceding vci-y  mild  remark  is  as  justly  appliadjle  to  Mr.  Webster's  orthography,  as  to  that  of  any  other  ;aithor :  As, 
In  his  dictfonao'  (1806)  he  omitted  the  final  e  in  the  terminations  im  and  ite  unaccented ;  thus,  in  doctrln.  deter- 
min, me.licin,  quarantin,  iessamin,  libertin,  examin,  deposit,  hypocrit.  apposit,  opposit,  reposit,  requisit,  iJerquisit; 
and  reulned  it  in  the  same  termination  in  exquisite,  favorite,  and  infinite;  And  in  his  dictionary  (1817)  ha 
kas  relalnpd  the  c  in  'he  last  thrte  noted  above,  and  inserted  it  in  doctrine,  determine,  medicine,  examine,  appo. 
«lte,  oppasit-,  >*r»iui3»t6,  attd  i;e<iubiw,  In  wJ^Ch  U  Y.'M  &X,  lA  U-v  *ii(?U<Hl&ry  dtw*  t    H«  has  Jockry  with  cy,  asd 


WEBSTER'S  AMERICAN  SPELLING-BOOK.  ^ 

tartey  with  w  only  i  cloke  with  oke,  and  oak  and  soak  with  oa .'  tranquillity  with  11,  and  intranquility  with  one  f ' 
and  in  his  dictionary  (1817)  he  l»as  apiio^ite  and  rfequlsite  with  fina;  e,  iind  jirc-rcquisit  and  inai-posit  without  Iti 
ahateahle  with  e  alter  t,  and  dclwuble  without  il !  &c.  and  yet  in  all  of  the  above  cjises,  in  wl.icli  Mr.  Webster's  or- 
thograi)l>y  is  neither  consistent  nor  uniform,  Johnson  and  Wa) iter  observe  both  consistency  and  uniibmiity. 

In  view  ot  the  expositions  I  liavo  made,  I  presume  every  person  will  perfectly  aj^'ree  witli  !Mr.  Webster  in  his 
statement  in  the  preface  to  his  dictionary,  that  ■  tl\e  more  books  arc  made,  the  more  the  hoin-st  inquirer  wiU  be  per- 
plexed and  confountieil  wi'.li  disconiani  principles,"  wiien  lie  has  published  two  dictionaries  which  do  not  agree 
Willi  each  other,  and  both  disagree  wi:h  his  speliingboolc  i 

PRONUNCIATION. 

I  shall  now  take  notice  of  Mr.  Webster's  "  ANALYSIS  OF  SOUNDS  IN  THE  ENGLISH  LANGUAGE,"  prefixed  id 
his  sj)e;iins.'-book  ;  and  shall  point  out  what  1  coinsider  defcciive  in  tliis  "  Aruihjsia." 

Mr  Webster  has,  in  his  Analysis,  piven  a  very  useiul  e>:|)lanaiion  of  the  word  LANGUAGE  ;  ha.s  piven  ver)'  ex- 
plicit definitions  of  an  articulate  soiitid,  a  voire/,  a  consonant,  and  of  a  diphthong ;  yet  none  of  these  were  taken 
notice  of  by  Mr.  Dilwonli.  except  the  vm-clAnA  consonant. 

Mr.  Dil-.vorth,  in  notin.i^  the  voirel  ;;ounds,  has  given  Ions  (a)  as  in  cape,  short  (a)  as  in  cap.  broad  (a)  as  in  hall; 
but  not  the  sound  of  a  in  wiiat,  Ac.  ;  Ion?  (c)  as  in  mete,  short  (e)  as  in  met .  lonf,'  (i)  as  in  time,  short  (i)  as  in  tin  J 
long  (o)  as  in  note,  short  (o)  as  in  not ;  bid  not  the  sound  of  o  in  move,  &c. ;  long  (u)  as  in  tune,  slmrt  (u)  as  In  lunj 
but  not  the  sound  of  u  in  bush,  &c.  :  all  of  these  evident  defects  Mr.  Webster  corrected.  In  noting  the  sounds  of  the 
consonanls.  Mr.  Dilworili  was  equally  defective  ;  for  instance,  he  has  not  noted  that  c  has  the  sound  of  sh;  that  ( 
is  a  consonant  in  many  words,  as  in  bullion,  &c. ;  that  s  has  the  sound  of  s^,  or  zh ;  or  that  x  has  ine  sound  of  gz  itt 
mal^y  words.    These  defects  are  also  in  pan  corrected  by  Mr.  Webster. 

'Mr  Webster  li:is  not  informed  us  at  all  in  Ids  Analysis  of  the  sounds  of  the  vowels,  that  many  of  the  above  vowel 
Bounils  are  represented  by  different  letters,  although  in  his  spelling  lessons  he  has  figures  to  represent  ihem  ;  as, 
long  a  is  represeiited  by  e.  in  there ;  long  e  by  i  in  shire ;  short  u  by  e  in  her,  i  in  third,  o  in  worm,  &c.  :  yet  Mr. 
DiUvortli  took  notice  of  all  these  in  their  proper  place. 

In  Mr.  Webster's  Analy.sis  of  the  sounds  of  the  cojisonants,  he  has  told  us  that  some  of  the  consonants  are  silent, 
yet  there  arc  oilier  consonants  which  are  silent,  respecting  tiie  silence  of  which  he  has  said  nothing  ;  acain,  he  has 
told  us  that  s  ime  of  the  consonants  are  nevtr  silent,  yet  there  are  otliers  which  are  never  siknt  also,  of  which  he 
has  said  nothing.  This  I  presume  will  he  considered  a  very  ereat  defect ;  for  the  scholar  would  su|>|>ose.  (and  rea- 
sonably,) that  as  he  has  spoken  of  the  silence  of  some  of  the  consonanls,  he  had  noted  all  which  are  silent  in  his 
spelling  lessons  ;  yet  this  is  not  the  case. 

He  says  '  B  has  bui  one  sound,  a.s  in  bite."  He  has  not  told  us  that  it  is  silent  before  t  in  the  same  syllable,  as  In 
debtor,  page  47,  subtle,  |iage  48  ;  after  ni  in  the  same  syllable  in  many  words,  as  in  limb,  jand),  ilnmb,  Ac  page  36. 0^ 
that  it  IS  ever  silent.  "  C  is  always  sounded  like  k  or  s— like  k  before  a,  o,  and  «— and  like  s  before  e.  i,  and  y." 
Here  we  are  told  that  c  is  alicayn  sounded  like  k  or  s,  but  he  has  not  informed  us  which  of  these  sounds  c  has  \>e- 
fore  I.  r,  and  f,  as  cloth,  cramp,  tract,  yet  :\lr.  Dilworth  has  told  us  which  of  these  sounds  c  has  before  /  and  r  If  "  c 
is  alvarji  sounded  like  k  or  s,"'  how  would  Mr.  Webster  pronounce  s-acrilice,  suffice,  and  discern,  with  their  deriv- 
atives ?  Certainly  sacriS&e,  suflisc,  disscrn ;  but  he  has  not  jjronounced  them  at  all,  either  in  his  spelling  book  ot 
dictionary.  Again,  in  speaking  of  C,  he  .s;iys,  "  When  followed  by  i  or  e  hefcre  a  vowel,  the  syllable  slides  into  the 
sound  of  sh;  as  in  cetnceous,  giacious.  social,  which  are  proiKjunced  cetashus,  grashus,  soshal."  Nov/,  I  wruld  adc 
whether  the  syllable  h;is  the  sound  of  sh  in  these  words,  or  has  c  or  ci  this  sound  .'  To  this  question  we  shall  find 
an  answer  in  his  examples  over  Table  34,  where  he  says,  "  Words  in  which  cie,  sie,  and  tie.  are  pronounced  she; 
tia  and  da,  sha,  &c.''  Here  he  does  wo? say  that  the  whole  syllable,  cient,sient.  tient,  tial,  liate,  cial,  or  ciate,  slides 
Into  the  sound  oi  sh  :  He  says,  "  At  the  end  of  words  it  (c)  is  always  hard  like  k,  as  in  public"  But  he  luis  not  in- 
formcil  us  whether  it  slu.idd  be  sounded  like  k  or  s  at  the  end  of  a  syllable,  as  vaccine,  flaccid,  siccity,  &c.  He  has 
not  told  us  tr  at  c  is  silent  in  czar,  p.  38.  in  victuiUs,  p.  43,  in  indict,  p.  5-2,  &c.  or  that  il  is  ever  silpiit.  "  D  has  only 
one  sound,  as  in  dress,  bold."  As  ]Mr.  Webster  lias  not  given  any  rules  for  the  pronunciation  ofthe  termination  eu 
we  must  not,^  agreeably  to  the  above  rule,  ev(;r  pronounce  d  like  l  in  this  icrminaiifm.as  at  lach-ed,  passed,  fa-ced* 
&c.  &c.  not  at-tatshr.  paJt,  fasto,  &c.  He  has  not  told  us  that  d  is  silent  in  the  lirst  svilttble  of  stadthoider,  p.  61  in 
Wednesday,  Ac.  or  that  it  is  ever  silent.  "  F  ha.-  its  own  projjcr  sound,  as  in  life,  fe^vr,  except  in  o/,  where  it  has 
the  S'Mind  of  r."  This  letter  is  not  silent  in  his  sijelling  lessons,  yet  he  has  not  sfated  it.  "  G  belore  a,  o.  and  u, 
has  it.''  hard  sound,  a.i  in  gave,  go,  gun.  Defore  e.  i,  and  //,  it  has  the  same  hard  vund  in  some  words,  and  in  others 
the  sound  oCj"  But  he  lias  not  informed  us  whether  rr  should  have  the  soun  •  of  j  before  I  and  » ,oi  its  liard  sound, 
as  in  glove,  grain,  &c.  He  has  not  told  us  that  /r  is  silent  bcfoie  n  in  tlio  .viine  .syllable,  as  in  soveiei^'n,  p.  49,  in 
arraign,  and  assign,  p.  51,  in  benii'n.  coniliirn,  design,  &c.  p.  52,  or  that  •-  '•■'  ever  silent.  In  speaking  of  H  he  savs, 
'•  H  can  hanlly  be  said  t.i  have  any  s./uncl,  but  it  denotes  ;in  aspira'-'H  or  impulse  of  breath,  which  ni'diiies  the 
BOUPiJ  of  the  followin::  vowel,  as  in  heart,  heave."  He  ha.s  not  told  us  thai  h  is  sih  nt  alter  r,  as  in  rli<  mb,  p  40  &c 
"  J  is  the  mark  of  a  compound  sound,  or  luiion  of  sounds,  winch  "lay  be  represented  by  dzh.  or  the  soft  g-,  as  in  jelly." 
J  is  never  silent,  yet  he  has  not  stated  it.  "  K  has  but  one  .'--nnd.  as  in  king:  and  before  n  is  alw.-iys  silent. as  In 
know."  Thus  we  see  that  on  the  same  principle  that  k  i-  silent  befoie  n,  ff  is  silent ;  yet  Mr.  Webster  noted  one 
and  not  the  other.  "  L  has  but  one  .sound,  as  in  lame.  «  is  sdent  before  k,  as  in  walk."  L  is  also  silent  before/ 
In  half  and  ralf,  p.  3"?,  and  before  v  in  Cii-lve,  halve,  &-^-,  before  m  in  balm.  calm.  &c.  p.  37,  before  d  in  ci  uld ,  woidrt* 
&c.  j).  39  ;  yet  Mr.  Webster  has  not  noted  one  of  f.'icse.  "  M  has  but  one  s<  und,  as  in  man  ;  and  is  ne\er'silcnt '' 
"  N  has  but  one  sound,  as  in  not,  and  is  silent  alter  m,  as  in  hyinn."  Asreeably  to  this  rule  we  must  pronounce 
thank,  think,  as  if  written  thank,  think,  &r-,  instead  of  soundln::  the  n  like  ns,'-,  as  if  vvriiten  thangk,  thinek  &c 
This  latter  pronunciation  is  the  ceneral  an"  natural  sound  of  the  letter  n  when  lollowed  bvA,-,  or  its  reiue.sentatlves 
hard  c,  q,  or  x,  in  an  accented  syllable  :  and  I  doubt  not  at  all  that  IMr.  Webster  hini,}eif,  in  pronouncing  the  words 
of  this  clas*,  gives  n  the  latter  pronurciation.  .Mr.  Webiier  ha.s  indirectly  admittwl  this  sound  of  n  in  the  pronun- 
ciation of  the  12  words  at  the  close  of  Table  40,  over  which  he  says.  '•  the  following  are  pronounced  as  thr u^h  they 
were  written  with  double  5-."  On  examination  we  shall  find  that  this  double  g  is  produced  bv  ih.o  combinaiion  of 
the  letters  n  and  g,  a-s  n  Viein'..'  in  an  acrtr.roJ  syllable  followed  by  §•  hard,  il  has  the  sound  ot  nsr ;  und  i;  never  having 
this  double  sound  when  written  si  i«.'!y,  e.\ccpt  when  precedod  by  ^tin  an  accented  svllable,  most  cUarly  proves 
that  the  first  i?oundof  5-  is  prodncix!  by  the  n;  consequently  the  words  in  v.hlch  n  is  in  ah  accented  svllable  followed 
by  the  letter  k,  and  its  rcprpsfy'afives,  (Avhich  arc  inutural  sounds  as  well  as  liard  g  )  should  be  classed  as  much  as 
the  12  words  at  the  close  of  Table  40,  and  for  the  same  reason.  He  has  not  told  us  that  n  is  also  silent  afler  /  at  Uie 
end  of  a  word,  ;i.s  kiln,  p.  146,  brick  kiln,  p.  46,  &c.,  iiolther  has  he  told  us  in  wh.it  situation  n  is  silent  after  m, 
whether  at  the  end  <ir  muMIe  of  a  word,  or  in  both  situations.  This  distinction  is  of  imich  importance;  for,  al- 
thou::h  n  is  silent  after  w  at  the  end  of  the  words  aulunin,  condemn,  &c.  it  i.s  not  silent  alter  win  the  middle  of  the 
words  autumnal,  condrmnallon,  &c. 

"  P  his  one  nniforni  sound,  as  in  pit."  He  has  not  told  us  that  p  is  siletit  before  s  at  the  beginning  of  a  word, 
as  in  p.<alm,  p.  37.  berwemw;  and  t,  as  in  t'lv.prer,  p  48, in  [irecmpiion,  redemption,  &c.  p.  74,  Ijefore  nin  pneumat- 
ics, p.  63,  &r.  or  that  it  is  ever  silent.  "  (i  has  the  power  of  A-,  and  is  always  lollowed  by  i<  as  in  question."  This 
letter  is  never  silent,  yet  he  has  not  stated  it.  "  R  h.is  one  .sound  only  as  in  barrel."  This  letter  is  not  .^ilent  in 
his  sjielling  lessons, yef  he  ha.s  not  staled  it.  "S  h.is  the  sound  off.  as  in  so;  of  2.  as  in  rose."  As  c  has  two 
sounds,  that  of  A- and  of",  how  are  we  to  know  from  the  above  rule,  which  .sound  of  f.j  should  have  in  this  word? 
In  speaking  of  she  s.nvs.  "when  followed  bv  i  preceding  a  vowel  the  syllable  has  the  sound  of  «/«  as  In  ndssion  ; 
of  z/i  as  in  o'^ier."  The  s>/ltnMf~\s  it  not  .--urprlsing  ihat  .Mr.  Wibsior  should  stale  that  the  syllable,  instrail  of 
8  or  si.  has  the  sound  of  sh  or  zh  7  And  what  renders  it  still  more  surprising  is,  that  he  has  stated  on  the  first  page 
ofhis  analysis,  that"  th'^rei-:  also  a  (lis*  inn  so^ind  expressed  bv  Mr  as  in  loris  ;  and  anothf-rby  »or  r.  as>n  fusion, 
azure,  which  sound  might  b-^^  npifstntcti  bv  .://.>  Here  ho  states  that  ihe  distinct  sound  ofzh  is  represented  bv  », 
instead  of  a  ivh'/}'  syHaUle.  .A.'ain,  he  s  iv.^.  Tible  33,  "  in  the  inllowin<T  words*/  sound  like  th;"  ap«l  in  this  ta'ble 
we  find  o«(Vr  and/»?w».  tl'.e  sanv  woi'ls  given  in  the  iirecrding  examples.  Thus,  we  have  i'l  Mr.  Webster's 
spellini-book,  thr're  ruhs  iclative  to  the  =ound  i^fzh.  not  two  of  which  asree  '  First,  the  sound  ofzh  is  exnro.ssed  by 
»,  in  fusion :  secondly,  the  m/llfr/le  lias  the  sound  ofzh:  thirdly,  ,1/  have  Ihe  sound  of  zh  .'  Ar.d  farther,  he  has  nof 
informed  us  when  we  must  pronounce  s  like  sh.  or  when  like  zh:  nor  has  he  told  the  reason  for  pronouncing  » 
likes/i  in  mission,  and  like  zh  in  nsirr-,   lh;if  ^should  be  sounded  like  sh  when  followed  liy  i  and  a  vowel,  anil  is 

S receded  by  a  conson.-uit.  and  is  like  zh  when  lollowed  as  above,  and  jireceded  by  a  vowel ;  neither  has  he  tolil  us 
iat»eve»has  the  sound  of  zft  when  followed  bv  w,  although  in  his  table  .^3,  over  which  he  has,  "in  the  following 
words,  si  sound  like  tfi,"  he  has  Inserted  .six  wo'rdji  in  which  s  is  followed  by  u  /    Again,  he  has  noi  told  us  thai  c 

5 


34  WEBSTER'S  AMEPwICA^N'  SPELLING-BOOK. 

ever  has  Ot"  «wnd  of  sh,  when  fVilo-svoci  bv  Ion?  2^  and  preceded  hy  the  accent,  as  in  censure,  sensuaJ,  Ac.  lit 
has  not  tolilus  that  s  iv;  silent  in  is'.c.  iiland,  viscount,  &c. ;)  112,  or  that  it  is  ever  silont.  "  T  has  its  proper  sonn4. 
as  in  turn  at  the  beginning  of  words  and  end  of  syllables.  In  all  the  terminations  in  tion,  and  tial,  ti  have  the 
sound  ofs'h,  as  in  nation,  nuptial ;  except  when  preceded  by  s  or  x.  in  which  case«  they  have  the  sound  of  r;»,  as  ia 
question,  mixtion."  Thus  we  shall  find,  on  e.Kamination,  that  in  givin::  the  sounds  ofsh^  which  are  expressed  by 
c  s  and  t,  he  has  dvcn  tho  rule  in  different  terms ;  as,  in  speaking  of  c,  the  syllable  slidaa  into  the  sound  of  ah,  of  $, 
the  syllable  lui's  the  sound  of  sh,  and  here  of  t,  he  saj's,  ti  have  the  sound  of  sh  ;  and  farther,  in  noting  these  sound* 
he  has  not  told  the  reasin  whv  c,  s,  and  t,  hp.ve  the  sound  o'igh ,-  which  Is.  that  they  are  followed  by  a  diphthong 
and  preceded  by  the  accent.  He  has  not  told  us  that  t  is  silent  in  chasten  and  glisten,  p.  47,  in  mortgage,  p.  4S,  In 
eclat,  p.  52,  &c.  or  that  it  is  ever  silent."  "  V  has  uniformly  one  sound,  as  in  voice,  live,  and  is  never  silent"  How 
then  shall  v/e  pronou-.ice  f!cv;nni?ht,  p.  49,  in  which  v  is  in  italici-:,  and  consequently  silent,  .agreeably  to  Mr. 
Webster's  rules  relative  to  italick  letters  in  his  spelling  lessons  ?  '•  W  has  the  power  of  a  vowel,  as  in  dwell ;  or  a  con- 
sonant, as  in  v/ell.  will."  He  has  not  tr>ld  us  that  it  is  silent  before  r,  as  in  wry  and  Wright,  p.  34,  in  wrap,  wreck, 
wrench,  p.  36,  &c.  &c.  or  that  it  is  ever  silenu 

"  X  ha5  tlie  sound  of  ks  as  in  wax  ;  or  of  gz,  as  in  exi.st,  and  in  other  words,  when  followed  by  an  accented  syl- 
lable besrinnincT  with  a  vowel.    In  the  hoginnin?  of  Greek  names,  it  ha.s  the  sound  of  z,  as  in  Xerxes,  Xenophon." 
This  is  the  onhj  instance  in  Mr.  Webster's  Analysis  in  which  he  has  admitted,  e>ther  directly  or  indii-cctly,  that  any 
consonant  ha.s  its  sound  varied  from  Ijeimr  in  an  accented  or  unaccented  syllable,  preceded  or  followed  by  « 
vowel !    I  cannot  conceive  why  Mr.  Webster  has  omitted  to  take  notice  of  the  influence  of  accent  when  treating  of 
the  diiTerent  sounds  of  the  of  her  consonants ;  for.  the  same  principle  of  analoijy  which  would  lead  him  to  note  the 
accent  v/hen  trcatins  of  x,  would  have  dictated  to  him  the  propriety  of  takin?  accent  into  tlie  account  when  treating 
of  the  sound  ot  sh,  represented  by  c,  s  or  t,  as  in  4,'racious.  pension,  action  ;  oftsh  represented  byr.as  in  question, 
&c. ;  or  ofzh,  vepresonted  by  s,  as'in  vision,  &c.  If.  agreeably  to  the  above  rule,  x  ha.s  the  "  sound  ot  gz.  as  in  exist, 
and  in  other  wor.ls.  when  followed  by  an  accented  syllable  becinnin?  with  a  vowel,"  in  all  cases  (and  Mr.  Webster 
iias  not  nored  any  exceptions,)  how  shall  we  pronounce  doxolo::y.  proximity,  fixation,  relaxation,  taxation,  vexation, 
&c.  ?   Certainly  ;  do^-zolo^v,  pro?-ziraitv,  ti?-zation,  retacr-zation,  tag-zation,  veg-zation,  &c. :  as  "  z  is  followed  by 
an  accented  svllable  beginning  with  a  vowel"  in  these  words.    Aeain,  Mr.  Webster  has  not,  in  the  preceding  rule, 
told  us  that  .-r  should  have  the  sound  of  ^z  when  followed  by  an  accented  syllable  bcfiinning  with  h,  although  he 
has  inserted  the  words  exhaust  and  exhort,  in  table  U,  over  which  he  ha.-;, "  In  the  following,  with  their  compounds 
and  derivatives,  j;  is  prononup^d  like  g-;:."    "  Z  has  its  own  sound  usually,  as  in  zeal,  freeze."     Mr.  Webster  has 
not  informed  us  that  z  ever  h:is  the  sound  of  z/^ ,-  but  he  has  inserted  the  words  glazier,  seizure,  and  azurs,  in  table 
33.  over  which  he  has,  "In  the  following  word.?,  <ri  sound  like  zh'\'    Although  there  is  no  si  in  the  alx)ve  words, 
yet  as  there  is  tiie  souml  of:zh  in  every  other  v»-oruin  this  table,  (33,)  wc  may 'reasonably  suppose  that  Mr.  Webster 
intended  the  z  lobe  sounded  like  zh,  "notwithstanding  he  has  not  informed  us  in  table  33,  or  when  treating  of  tho 
letter  2  that  it  ever  has  this  sound.    "  Ch  have  the  sound  of  tsh  in  words  of  English  origin,  as  in  chip— in  some 
words  of  French  original  thev  have  the  sound  of  sh,  as  in  machine— and  in  some  words  of  Greek  origin,  the  sound 
ot  fe,  as  in  chorus."   He  has  hot  told  us  that  ch  is  silent  in  schism,  p.  .SG,  yacht,  p.  38,  or  that  it  is  ever  silent.  "Gtf» 
have  the  sound  off,  as  in  laugh,  or  are  silent,  as  in  light."    He  h?.s  not  told  us  that  gh  is  pronounced  like  fc,  in 
hough,  loueh.  shoiigh,  (see  Webster's  Dictionarj') :  that  the  h  only  is  silent  in  .some  words,  as  in  ghost,  p.  35,  gherkin, 
p.  99.    "  Ph  have  the  sound  of/,  as  in  philosoph}- ;  except  in  Stephen,  v.iierc  it  has  the  sound  of  v."    He   has  not 
told  us  tiiat  ph  is  silent  in  phthisic,  p.  47.  or  that  it  is  ever  silent   "  Sh  has  one  sound  only,  as  in  sliell ;  but  its  use  is 
often  supplied  bv  ti.  ci,  and  ce,  before  a  vowel,  as  in  motion,  gracious,  cetaceous."    Here  he  has  stated  that  the  us© 
9f  8h  is  often  supplied  by  ti,  ci  and  ce,  but  has  omitted  to  mention  si  also.  Again,  in  the  above  rule,  he  says  that  the 
use  of  sh  is  often  supplied  by  ci   nd  ce :  but  in  treating  of  the  letter  C,  he  states  that  th.e  syllable  slidce  into  the 
sound  of  s^.    •'  Th  has  two  sounds,  aspirate  and  vocal— aspirate,  as  in  think,  bath— vocal,  ns  in  those,  that,  bathe." 
He  has  not  told  us  that  h,  in  tliis  combination,  is  silent  in  asthma,  p.  46,  in  isthmus  and  phthisic,  p.  47,  in  thyrae^ 
&c. :  or  that  it  is  ever  silent.   "  5?c before  n,  o,  u  and  r.  arc  pronounced  like  sk,  as  in  scale,  scotf,  sculpture,  scribble 
before  e,  i,  y.  liks  soft  c,  or  s,  ar  in  sc^ne,  science,  Scythian."    H.?  hns  not  told  us  that  sc  has  the  sound  of  sh,  a.5  in 
conscience,  conscious,  &c. :  yet  'be  has  these  words  in  table  34,  in  which  c,  s  and  t  have  the  sound  of  sh.     After 
these  rules,  Mr.  Webster  has  given  ccncise  cxplanivtions  of  the  "Formitlon  of  Words  and  Sentences,"  and  "  Ot 
Accent.  Emnhasis  and  Caaance."  Then  follows  his  "Key  to  the  following  Work."  in  which  he  has  given  examples 
of  the  ditrcfent  vov.-el  souniK,  as  represented  by  fizrires  plao^d  over  the  vowels  of  the  accented  syllables  in  his 
spelling  lessons,  the  rcpresp.ntnnon  of  which  he  has  explained  in  his  "  Explanation  of  the  Key.     A  figure  stands  as 
the  invariable  reprssontative  ot  a  cr^tain  .sound.    The  figure  1  represents  the  long  sound  of  the  letters,  a,  e,  i,  u,  u, 
or  cu\  iind  y  ;  number  2  the  short  soit^  nf  the  same  characters :  number  3  marks  the  sound  of  broad  a.  in  hall; 
number  4  represents  the  sound  of  a'm.TKihcr  ;  number  .5  represents  the  short  sound  of  broad  a  as  in  vot,  what ; 
number  6  reprasents  the  sound  of  o  inmo2-'?-,<-4)m)T!only  expressed  by  oo :  number  7  represents  the  short  sound  of 
00  in  root,  buf/i:  number  S  represents  the  souita  of  n  short,,  made  by  c,  i  and  o,  as  in  ficr,  bird,  coriie,  pronounced 
hnr  burd,  cum  ;  number  9  represents  the  first  Sb^nd  of  <?,  made  bv  e,  as  in  there,  rein,  pronouncetl  thare,  varu: 
number  lo  rcpre.sents  the  French  sound  of  i,  which  Vt  the  same  as  ^"long."  This  representation  of  the  vowel  sounds 
bv  figures  was,  unquestionablv.  a  great  improvement  t^aon  Mr.  Dilworth'.s  Spelling-book,  in  which,  as  was  stated 
oh  page  33,  the  vowel  soun^ls  were  not  classed  or  noted,    in  the  application  of  these  figures  in  the  various  spelling 
lessons,  the  vowels  are  classed  whose  sounds  arc  of  the  Sj^ie  quantHy  :  as  long  a.  e,  i,  o,  &c.  under  number  1 ; 
short  a,  e,  i,  &c.  under  number  2;  or  those  whose  sounds  ai>  similar,  as  her,  b  rd,  come.  &;c.  under  8,  in  which 
the  vowels  e.  i,  and  o  represent  the  sound  of  short  u,  &c.  &r. ;  anA  "  a  figure  placed  over  the  first  word,  marks  the 
sound  of  the  vowel  in  all  that  follow  in  that  column,  until  contraifk:tcdbv  another  figure."    As  Mr.  Webster  has 
given  a  "  Key  to  the  following  Work,"  and  has  stated  that  "  a  figure  sv,jjic{s  as  the  invariable  represenuative  of  a 
certain  sound,"  we  might  rea.sonably  suppose  that  his  key  would  be  suff  ciontlv  extensive  to  represent  all  the 
.  vowel  sounds  made  hy  diflferent  letters,  acknowledged  by  him  in  his  spelling  lessons;  and  that  no  figure  should 
be  placed  over  a  vowel  in  his  lessons  which  is  not  represented  in  his  key,  or  in  the  explanation  of  its  use  and 
application  or  which  does  not  correspond  with  its  rcr.rcsontalion  in  the  Iccv  :  vet  his  kcv  is  defective  in  both  of  the 
above  particulars.    For  instance,  on  page  30.  he  has  the  foUoAving  note  ;  "Under  this  figure,  (reference  to  figure  2) 
in  the  words  skirt,  izc.  i  has  tl.c  second  'sound  of  e."     On  this  page  (39)  are  the  vrords  skirt,  dirge,  virge,  firm,  stirp, 
chirp  Quirk.and  fir,  p.  41.  birth. girth,  mirth.  &c.  p.  49.  virtue,  page  52,affirm,  p.  G2,firmament,4:c.  withf  under  figure 
2  and  if  we  follow  M  r.  Webster's  rule,  that  "n^tigurc  stands  as  the  invariable  rcprer^ntati  ve  of  a  certain  sound,"  the 
i*  must   at  least  in  the  above  words  not  on  uagc  39,  have  if^s  short  sound  as  in  pix,  agreeably  to  his  key !    If  he 
should  say  that  the  note  on  page  39.  was  vi  tended  to  apply  to  all  of  the  words  in  which  i  is  under  2.  near  the  close  of 
the  different  spelling  les.sons,  then  I  would  inquire,  whether  he  intended  to  give  i  the  sound  of  second  e,  in  the 
word  principle,  p.  61,  and  in  tn.iraclc,^*.  C2,  v/hich  are  in  tlie  same  predicament  with  the  words  above  noted  ;  if  he 
did  not  intend  that  sound,  then  who  can  avoid  admitting  the  imperfection  of  Mr.  Webster's  key,  or  its  improper 
application  '    It  is  also  quite  singul.ar  that  he  ha.s  given  this  "  sound  of  second  e"  to  many  words,  and  the  sound  of 
■M  short  to  others  of  like  formation,  both  of  which  should  evidently  Ije  sf.unded  alike  ;  as  p.  39.  virge,  (verge,)  n. 
49  virctin  (vurgin,)  p.  40  and  99,  girt  (gurt,)  p.  -il,  girth  (gerth.)  &c.    Mr.  Welistar  has,ator  near  the  close  of  nearly 
ali  of  his  spelling  lessons,  given  a  class  of  words  in  which  chas  ito  short  sound,  and  over  which  is  placed  number 
2.    If  he  intended  to  class  tho.se  words  only,  in  which  e  is  immediately  followed  by  rand  another  consonant  In  an 
atcented  svllable,  tor  the  purpose  of  pointing  out  in  a  particular  manner  the  ronect  pvonunciation  of  e  in  this  sit- 
uaiinn,  as'it  was  formerly  sounded  like  flat  a  In  these  words  ;  a-?  mcrty  (n-iarc;-,)  ■perfect  (parfect,)  nurchant  (mar- 
chant.,)  &c.  &c.  :  why  did  he  insert  words  in  these  classes  in  which  c  is  not  followed  by  r  in  an  accented  syllable, 
as  venom,  p.  23,  intend,  p.  V>,  regulate,  p.  27,  overwhelming,  p.  32,  etTominacy,  in\'cteracy,  intemperately,  p.  69  J    If 
he  dill  not  intend  to  note  the.^  wonls  in  a  particular  manner,  as  stated  above,  then  these  words  above  referred  to, 
should  be  m  the  first  class  of  words,  in  each  lesson,  which  are  placed  under  fi.gure  2 ;  in  either  case,  there  is  an  evi- 
dent defect  in  the  application  of  the  figure,  or  in  the  classification  of  the  words.    Kc  says.  "  The  number  i  repre- 
sents the  long  st«jnd  of  the  letters  a.  e  i,  o,  n,  or  eio.  and  y :  number  2.  the  short  sound  of  the  same  characters  ;" 
yet  he  has  not  giv%n  any  example  in  his  kcv  in  which  etp  or  o  is  placed  under  figure  2  ;  neither  is  cw  under  2  in 
any  instance  in  his  snelling  lessons,  nor  o  but  in  the  two  words  doth,  p.  41,  and  acknowledge,  p.  63  !    lie  has  given 
ihe  word  tun  in  his  Key,  to  represent  the  sound  of  tt.  short  with  figure  2  over  It  •  and  on  pjige  40  he  has  spelled  it 
ton  with  figure  8  over  it  -,  nnd  it  is  spelled  tun  in  his  dictionary  published  in  180G  and  1817.    He  says,  "  number  « 
represents  the  .sound  of  o  in  move,"  and  on  p.  C3,  he  has  maneuver  with  n  under  6,  although  he  has  no  example 
in  his  key  to  shov/  that  «  ever  has  this  sound.    He  says,  "  numljcr  3  represents  the  .sound  of  u  short  made  by  e,  i, 
and  0,"  yet  he  has  run.  p.  39,  and  dunre.,  p.  40,  with  the  u  under  8.  instead  of  placing  them  urdf»r  2 ! 
Great  perplexity  and  embarrassment  fi-cqucntly  arise  from  the  manner  that  these  finures  arc  placed  o^er  'J>» 


WEBSTKRS  AMERICAN  SPfJLLlNG  BOOfL  BJ 

vewe^,  belns  on  'Jx  same  type  wllJi  ihe  letter,  it  is  finite  diificuit  lor  ih-:  scholar  to  tietenj.no  which  Hgure  la  on  th« 
vowel  before  him  ;  and  when  the  {ipuie  I  is  piace>i  ovor  i  it  is  paiuculariy  perplexing  to  ayoun?  scholar.  The 
figures  ought,  undoubtcUly,  to  be  on  a  separate  typo  fron)  the  letter,  whenever  the  aounds  of  the  vowels  change,  that 
thcv  may  be  at  once  distinguislied  both  by  tc;icher  and  scholar. 

The  following  rule  of  JMr.  Webster's  Key,  which  is  to  denote  the  silent  letters  in  the  spelling  lessons  by  printing 
them  in  iia  lick  characters,  wai  alsoa  »e/-y^rear  improvement.  [Tiiis  Improvtmen:,  hov^ever,  was,  1  believe,  origi- 
nal in  Mr.  Kerry'.s  spelling  book.  J  '•  bilent  letters  are  printed  in  ita'ick  chamr tcrs :  tints,  in  hea.1,  coa\,  bwiUl,  peo- 
ple, tii'/it,  the  italick  letters  have  no  sound."  Mr.  Webster  has  omitted  to  ndc  the  silence  of  many  letters  in  his 
spelling  lessons,  although  he  has  noted  the  silence  of  ."»hers  wiiich  are  eviucniiy  of  the  same  class,  as  will  be 
fully  shown.  "  S  when  printed  in  italick,  is  not  siient ;  but  pronounce!  like  z  as  in  devise,  pronounced 
devize."  If  «  should  be  pronounced  like  z,  when  printed  in  italick,  why  is  it  in  italick  in  table  ihirtv-threc,  in 
which  it  is  sounded  like  zh  !  'J'heio  is  evidently  a  contradiction  between  the  rule  quoted  above,  and  t!ie  rule  and 
examples  placed  over  the  table  tliir'y-thiee ;  for  if  v/e  follow  tlie  above  rule,  we  must  pronounce  the  « like  z  in  table 
33,  as  mez-ur,  plezur,  ra-zur,  &c.  &c.  ;  and  if  the  rule  over  the  table,  mezh-ur,  plezh  ur,  ra  zhur,  &c.  <i;c.  A:.'ain, 
if  t  should  be  pronounced  like  :  when  in  italick,  i»ow  shall  we  pronounct;  Rliode  Island,  p.  lui  ;  Islesburg,  ji.  I30j 
C-irliJle,  p.  133  ;  Long-Isiand,  p.  139  ;  Presque-Ule,  p.  HO,  in  which  the  s  is  in  italick  1  The  rules  respecting  ch  and 
th  as  it  regards  their  classification,  were  treated  of  on  page  3*2. 

With  regard  to  what  I  shall  deem  C(Wi/;a«itc/or?/ pronunciation  in  this  treatise,  I  will  obser\"e,  that  I  apply  it  to  those 
cases  whe're  IVIr.  WeUiter  has  given  a  vowel  or  ojnsonunt  x  particular  .'scund  in  a  certain  situation,  and  has  eiven 
the  same  vowel  or  consonant  a  different  soimd  in  a  »z/Mitor  situation  ;  or  wl.ere  he  has  a  vjwel  or  con.-oii;int  silent 
In  a  certain  situation,  and  not  silent  in  a  similar  one.  For  instance,  he  has  a.  in  tiie  termination  unl,  under  figure 
«,  short  a  in  plant,  p.  19 ;  and  umier  4,  flat  a,  in  the  same  termination,  in  pant,  grant,  &c.  p.  38  ;  o  under  5,  broa-i  a 
abort,  in  drossy,  p.  23;  and  under  3,  broad  a  long,  in  the  same  syllable  dross,  p.  zi;  a  uniler  2,  short  a,  in  the 
termination  angc,  in  arrange  and  derange,  p.  21 ;  and  under  l,  long  a,  in  tlie  saine-temiination  in  change  and 
Btrauge,  p.  33 ;  a  under  2,  short  a  in  the  terminatioi^  ance,  in  finance,  p.  Mi  ;  and  romance,  p.  25 ;  and  under  4,  flat  a. 
In  the  same  termination  in  dance,  pratice,  &c.  p.  38;  and  advcnoi,  p.  o'l ;  he  has  prDnuunced  «  like  z.  in  tlie  preti.x 
di$,  in  disarm,  p.  23  ;  but  has  pronounced  the  a  hissing,  a^  in  sin,  in  di-own,  p.  52;  although  ii  shculd  be  soundeil 
like  z,  as  in  disarm,  being  followed  by  an  accented  syllable  beginning  w  ith  a  vowel  in  both  cases.  He  has  divided 
prin-cip  :d,  p.  26,  and  prin-ci  pal,  p.  117;  0  under  5,  broad  asliort,  in  immortal,  i>.  2^  ;  and  under  3,  broad  a  lens,  in 
mortal,  p.  48 ;  s  like  z  in  dissolvent,  p.  23  ;  and  hissing  in  indissoivable,  p.  72  ;  he  has  noed  p  as  nittnt  between  iii 
and  t.  and  has  it  in  italick  in  tempter,  p.  48,  assumption,  consumption,  pre-emption,  redemption,  p.  7i,  e.xempt,  p. 
103  ;  but  has  iounded  the  p  in  the  same  situation,  and  has  it  in  roman  in  sumptuary,  peremptory,  p.  29,  attempt, 
contempt,  p.  52;  presumptive,  p.  63  ;  sumptuouslv,  p.  63  ;  contemptible,  p.  67 ;  o  under  3,  broad  a  long,  in  furm,  lot. 
cord,  p.  37;  and  under  5,  broad  a  short  in  the  same  syllables,  in  performance,  recorder,  mis  for-tmie,  p.  63; 
for-rnid-a-ble,  p.  66 ;  u-ni-forml-ty,  p.  72 ;  and  farther,  it  is  vii^ossbble  to  •>ive  o  the  sound  cf  bro;id  a  short,  as  in 
•wluit,  as  represented  by  fi'_'ure  5,  in  these  words,  as  the  o  is  followed  by  r  and  another  consonant,  and  ntcissarily 
has  the  sound  of  broad  a  Ions,  as  in  fall ;  the  same  may  be  observed  with  regard  to  o.  which  he  has  under  figure  5, 
In  abhor,  p.  25  ;  nrnamcnt,  n.  27 ;  abortive,  indorsement,  importance,  p.  63 ;  orchester,  j).  95 ;  whereas  it  .'hi  uld  lie 
under  3,  bruad  a  long,  in  all  of  Uie  above  words,  beins  followed  by  r  single,  or  bi'  r  and  another  consonant,  as  in 
border,  corner,  mortal,  &c.  p.  4S ;  adorn,  suljorn,  d'C.  pr 52;  deformity,  subor^^inine,  &c.  p.  67 ;  a  in  wasp  and  want, 
under  3,  broad  a  long,  p.  37,  and  under  5,  broad  a  short,  in  wash,  \c-^^^  and  w.and,  p.  38;  o  in  dross,  lo.ss.  &c.  under 
3,  p.  37;  imd  in  fosse,  under  5,  p.  3S;  a  under  5,  bread  a  sho^'i '"  t^ult,  p.  39;  and  under  S,  bnadrt  lon^'.  in  ihesa.'.ie 
syllable  in  fault  y,  p.  48 ;  oo  under  7,  in  lo;if.  p.  39  ;  -^"^  under  6,  in  aloof,  p.  52.  'Jhe evident  conirjuliction  in  the 
pronunciation  of  words  in  which  i  is  followed  i>r  r  single,  or  by  rand  another  consonant,  was  t:iken  iioiice  of  on  page 
34  ;  as,  virge,  (verge.)  i  like  >:  slwrt,  p.  3."»»  >  'rgin,  (vurgin,)  i  like  u  short,  p.  49,  &c.  He  has  e  and  y  b..th  in  r.  man 
in  the  tennination  ey  in  abbey,  p  «  ;  and  the  t  in  italick  and  the  y  only  in  roman,  in  tr.e  same  termiiiaiion,  in 
chimney,  p.  47  ;  he  has  the  fund  h  both  silent  in  asthma,  p.  46,  but  the  h  only  is  silent  in  isthmu.s,  p.  47  ;  he  hasr 
silent  when  preceded  byaand  followed  by  en,  in  chasten  and  slisten,  p.  47 ;  and  has  sounded  it  in  christen,  p.  -i'  iy 
which  it  is  preceded  by  s  and  followed  by  oi,  as  in  the  two  wordsabove  referred  to !  On  p.  47  is  franchise,  wiili  «|*ie 
«  hissing  and  the  e  in  italick,  making  the  i  short ;  p.  63.  disfranchise,  with  the  s  in  italick,  si.umltd  like  z.  ;uvl  the  « 
in  roman,  making  the  i  long ;  p.  66,  disfranchisement  with  the  s  italick,  sounded  like  z,  and  the  e  in  it;ii;ck  a'so 
making  the  i  short,  so  that  the  syllable  chise,  being  immsdiutely  preceded  by  the  accent,  is  pion!)unced  three  difter- 
ent  wiiysin  tlie  three  words  above  noted ;  thus,  tshis,tsiii/.e,  and  tshiz!  Page  47,  <?  in  italick  and  o  roman  in  lllr.G^lel■n, 
and  same  page,  e  in  roman  and  o  in  italick  in  punclieou,  and  i>.  48,  truuchccn,  pronounced  Ituichuu.iHinchrti.  and 
trunchen  !  Pasje  43,  o  in  fortune,  under  3,  broad  c  long,  and  e  in  roman,  making  the  u  Ions  ;  an  i  p.  63,  o  in  mis- 
fortune, under  5,  broad  a  short,  and  the  «  italick,  making  the  u  short,  thus,  fawr-tune  and  niis-ioi  tun !  P.ige  49,4 
under  5,  in  knowlcdije.  and  under  2  in  the  same  syllable,  in  acknowledse.  p.  63  ;  p.  52.  the  final  e  m)  reman  in  ap- 
prove and  above,  and  WaWcM.  in  disprove  and  belove ;  over  Table  30,  he  h;is  given  whole  sylhibles  for  e>;amp|.  s  when 
spe-akin;?  of  the  sound  of  txh  or  sh,  as  tion,  ikni,  cion,  ciul.  iVc.  ;  and  over  'J'able  o4,  he  h:(s  friven  parts  of  sj  ii.ibles 
for  examples,  as  cie.  sie,  tie.  &c.  ;  p.  91,  the  s  is  not  italick  in  billiards  and  billions,  ;is  it  should  be  agriHahly  10  his 
rule  resjxrcting  s,  for  it  is  imiiossiblc  to  pronounce  these  words  unless  we  pronounce  the  s  like  z.  1  he  coi'iimdic- 
lion  in  his  pronunciation  of  xio  like  kshit  in  anxious,  and  not  in  ilexion,  fluxion.  &c..  n.  91,  was  taken  i.oiice  ol 
on  page  30.  On  p.  95,  chord  is  umler  5,  broad  a  .short,  tuul  on  p.  .^r.  cor  1  is  under  3,  bic:itl  a  Icm:,  and  on  p.  145,  he 
h.-is  given  them  its  being  pronounc/?d  alike,  making  figures  3  and  5  synonymous  in  their  represenlaiion  !  Paae  97, 
e  rohian  in  machine,  and  italick  in  miichinery ;  p.  103.  areexh;iu.sian'd  exhort,  in  the  former  of  which  h  is  souii.icv, 
anil  in  the  latter  it  is  silent,  although  h  commences  aii  .ico^nted  syllable,  and  is  immrdiaie'y  jUL-ceded  by  j  in  Ixith 
words.  Thus  I  have  given  a  list  of  words  which  1  conceive  to  bo  picnouncesl  in  a  contradicti  ly  niarnci  in  r^lr. 
Webster's  spelling  lessons.  As  I  intend  to  compare  the  principles  of  pronunciation  by  .1  \Vi>l!:er  with  tluse  ol 
Mr.  Web.ster,  on  some  future  occasion,  1  shall  not  briiig  iho  p»\p»i:'.y  or  j'joines.>  of  Mr.  Webstcr't  princijiles  into 
question  until  that  time. 

As  Mr.  Wcb^ier  has  siiven  the  pronunci.ationof. -Vjr  wor.ts  (except  ttioir  accentuation)  In  hJs  dictionary  (I8I7.I  we 
can  not. detect /;mny  contradictions  in  pronunciation  in  ids  dictionary  and  .'peUiug-boik  :  but  from  t'iCle'w  which  he 
has  pronounced,  I  presume,  had  he  given  the  pronunciation  in  his  dictionary  of  all  the  wonls  contained  in  his 
spelling  book,  there  would  h.ave  been  the  s.tme  Mppy  consiitnicy  and  iinifnrmi'.y  i>ylween  the  dictionary  and 
fpelling-book  in  their  pronunciation,  that  there  is  in  tlitir  arlho^nphy.  which  was  exhibited  on  p.ige  32.  For  In 
stance:  p.  25,  romance  is  accented  on  the  second  syllable,  ;iiid  on  thej?/9<  in  the  dimonavy:  si  monv,  i  [v^.? 
■iin-ony,  i  short,  in  the  ''.iclionary  ;  p.  33,  beard,  e  silent  and  a  long,  and  a  silent  .-nd  e  Ion-.-  in  his  dictionary  ;  p.  37,' 
wasp,  broad  a  long,  and  broad  a  short  in  the  diction.»o' ;  !>•  -16,  asthi.na,  t  ."-iknt  in  the  sjielliiigUiok.  and  sounded  in 
his  dictionary  ;  e  italick  in  brimstone,  making  rl.r"  o  short,  and  roman  in  the  dictionary,  maklni.'  the  o  Ions;  p.  47 
bustle  pronounced  bust!,  t  sounded,  and  in  hisiiictionarv  pronounced  bu^.^le,  f  siient  :  p.  O.  >ovciei.rn  i-ronounceil 
suv-ren,  nvo  t  vliables.  and  suv-er  un.  three  bvUablos,  in  his  dictionary  ;  p  5?.  upritrht  and  s/'.ioiini  accented  on  the 
$econd  syl'at#-.  und  on  the  first  in  the  dictionary;  p.  59.  heioLsin  diviih^l  he-roi.-nn  f  ion;:,  and  her-oiMu,  e 
short,  in  his  dictionary ;  p.  63,  apprais*  r,  /  accented,  a  (.<cconil  .'-yllaliie)  acc<  ntcil  in  his  <iictiniiaiy  ;  di,^fn«iichi.<c.  e 
roman,  makiog  the  i  long,  e  italick,  making  tiie  i  short,  dictionarv ;  p.  66,  comrai.'''le.  nicontiil  on  the  seam  I 
syllable,  and  on  theyir«  in  the  dictionary :  p.  71,  monosyllable  and  polvsyllabic.  arc.-iued  on  the  ilurd  syihihk-,  and 
on  \.Y\t  Jlnt  111  the  dictionary;  p.  93.  apotheosi.^.  acceir.oa  on  the  ihiid  svllabU".  and  on  x\\e  foufth  in  the  dic- 
tionary; p.  95,  te-trarch,  c  lonir,  r.nd  tet-rarch,  c  shoit,  in  the  dic.ilonarv  ;  p.  97.  tieriiicr.ifcentcd  on  ilie  s'^coud  .sylt^ 
We,  and  on  Iuq  first  in  th»>  dictionary ;  p.  lOl.  pagcantrv,  a  shoir.  11. il  a  loytr.  dictionary:  p.  102.  adagio,  a  shoi'. 
(second  syllable,)  and  a  loi>^,  dictionarv  ;  p.  108,  donor  and  bid'tr  .orii'ed  on  \\\e nrrond  syllable,  and  on  the^rst 
In  his  dictionjiry.  Sec.  Sic.  ."and  wh.d  is  ((uite  surprisini:  (not  ;o  >av  rJiun:)  is.  that  in  nearly  every  instance  in 
which  he  ha.s  acc»!ni'd  or  pronounced  a  -.vor  I  dirteiemlv  m  hi^  da  lioicry  iVoin  his  si.«M!ingb<:ok,  he  agrees  with 
IV^alkcr's  pronunciation,  wh^^se  piinclplcs  he  has  condtinned  in  a  v.ry  ze-ilous  an. I  pa' 1  loiitk  manner. 

When  thi^  review  was  i)uti:ished  in  the  Albanv  Argus.  I  point/Ml  out  the  .lirterei.c^-^  ni  pronuncu.tion  brtwe«:i 
Mr.  Webster'3  3pelllPff-bo.>k  and  Walker's  illctionary,  for  the  purpr^se  of  shovsing  the  extreme  :»i]'r"prlrryn,'i 
ai«/rrfi7(/ which  exist  In  it.»'  use  of  thc'se  two  books  in  the  sanir  school,  which  ;s  usual  m  many  pin.^  of  the 
United  J^iated.  The  words  in  which  Mr.  Webster  d;sff^'rt/»  with  Mr.  Walker,  r^creoahly  u.  the  princirle.s  of  Mr. 
Webster's  old  sprlling-lnxik.)  amouni  to  at  lea  t  five  th'msaril!  and  if  wc  IncluJo  their  derivatives,  p  oba.ly  c»srAf 
thowandf  so  that  It  fs  not  at  .dl  suri.risins  tt.at  th^re  is  so  much  contradictory  nroruncuiion  among  school  feach- 
na,  and  fc«  littl-^  uniformity  in  prominci;iiion  with  publjck  siH-akers.  when  (X'^  It  ha.s  br^cn  iuUy  shown)  Mr.  \.  e;> 
rter's  pronunciaBtm  is  contrailictun-  both  in  his  own  sjielling  b.vk  and  scho,>l  dlrtionarr  :  -Mid  th^n^rrff  in  ».<s 
Pj>flUn£  tM>!i  to  a  very  great  extent  with  Walkers,  which  i»  gcnci-aily  ujcd  in  iht  lu-im  -w.cOi  Wi-  .1.  ^r.c;-c  lu 


86  WEBSTER'S  AMERICAN  SPELLI^'G-BOOK. 

tirihrvTurAw  qnd  oronunciation  are  laii^ht !  so  proraineni  are  these  dirterences  in  pronunciation  between  WebBter*! 
«ri.imia  h7>o!c  and  Walker's  (lictionarvr thai  on  opening  this  spelling-l)<x)k  atoneplac«  (pa^es  39  an^i  39)  we  shall 
^ceive  at  one  view  no  less  than  eighty-two  variations  from  ^V^alker■s  dictionary !  Hence  the  m;propnety  of  using 

HavVn°  panned  out  what  I  considered  defective  or  contradictory  in  Mr.  Wehster's  spelling-book,  I  shall  now  con- 
elude  ni\^  remarks  on  that  lX)Ok  by  taking  notice  of  some  declarations  made  by  ftlr.  Webster  relative  to  his  spelling- 
book,  in  his  APPEAL  "  TO  THE  PUBLICK,"  published  at  .\ew-Haven  Alaich  1S26 

From  a  review  of  his  appeal,  above  alluded  to,  I  was  lully  convinced  tliat  Mr.  Webster  was  not  aware  of  the 
defects  and  contradictions  contained  in  his  spelling  book  and  school  dictimiary  ;  and  I  have  therefore  l)een  more 
particular  in  giving  proof  of  what  I  have  stated.  In  speaking  of  his  spcliing-book,  he  observes,  "  my  tables  are  so 
constructed  and  so  nearly  complete,  that  they  cannot  be  improved."  Again,  he  says,  m  speaking  ot  the  attempts 
to  rival  bis  book  :  "  In  order  to  accomplish  their  object,  it  has  been  found  e.^;pedienl  to  depreciate  my  work,  and  to 
charge  me  with  innovation,  and  with  introducii\2  a  system  of  orthography  and  pronunciation  in  many  re-iptan 
vague  and  pedantic.  Surely,  if  this  is  true,  if  niv  book  is  i-eally  a  bad  one.  I  have  been  very  much  tiecen  td  ■  and 
I  have  done  not  only  an  injury,  but  great  and  extensive  injury  to  my  country."  In  the  preceding  review  1  have 
shown  that  his  book  "  is  really  a  bad  one,"  not  only  in  the  contradictory  and  defective  manner  in  which  his  spel- 
lin"^  lessons  are  classed  and  arranired,  [see  pases  3o,  311  but  in  the  inconsistent  and  defective  innovations  in  orthog- 
raphy adopted  by  him,  which  he^iid  not,  or  could  not  render  consistent  or  uniform  throughout  the  language! 

iSpp  Da'^GS  7   8    9    10    I!  1 

To  my  remarks  on  his  spelling-book,  Mr.  Webster  attempted  an  answer  in  the  Argus  of  the  I2th  Dec.  1827,  but 
Instead  of  disproving  my  assertions,  or  endeavouring  to  oiler  any  remarks  in  justification  of  having  continued 
these  errours,  defects.  cii\A  inconsistencies  in  his  spehing-book  for  more  than  forty  yefl/s,  many  of  which  arc  at 
variance  with  his  school  dictionarv,  [see  pages  19,  32] ;  he  has  admitted  the  truth  of  my  assertions,  in  the  lollowing 
language :  "  That  there  are  some  errors,  defects  and  inconsistencies  in  the  work,  is  not  to  be  wondered  at ;  lor  this  is 
preciselv  the  fact  with  every  English  dictionaiy  which  I  have  yet  seen;"  and  he  indulges  in  a  decisive  condemna- 
tion of  every  English  dictionarv  now  in  existence,  for  the  purpose  of  justifying  the  errours  of  his  spellinL'-book ! 
Mr.  Webster,  in  speaking  of  the  defects  of  Mr.  Johnson's  dictionary,  observed  in  the  preface  to  his  dictionary, 
puMished  in  iSOd,  piige  19,  that  •'  To  assign  the  causes  of  these  delects  is  by  no  me:uis  dinicult.  \^  e  arc  told  in  the 
accounts  of  Johnson's  lite  that  he  was  almost  always  depressed  by  disease  and  poverty  ;  that  he  was  naturally 
Indolent,  and  sektom  wrote  until  he  wa3  urged  by  want,  or  the  necessity  of  fulfilling  his  engagements  with  his 
booksellei.  Hence  it  happenetl  that  he  often  received  the  money  for  his  writiuiis  before  Ids  nianuscripta  were  pie- 
pared.  Then,  when  called  upon  for  copy,  he  was  compelled  to  prepare  his  mmuscripts  in  haste;  and  it  may  be 
reasonably  supposed  tha«  in  some  instances  tliey  were  sent  to  the  nress  in  an  untinished  state.  These  facts,  while 
they  may  account  for.  by  no  means  excuse  the  multitude  of  errors  in  his  dicticnary."  But  Mr.  Webster  cir.iiot, 
with  anv  degree  of  projtrietv  or  consistencv,  assert  that  poverty  is  the  aiuso  if  the  errours  in  his  spelling-book  or 
school  dictionary  ;  for,  in  his  appe;il,  after  havinn  stated  that  his  book  had  encrunlered  preiio-^session  and  prejudice 
with  success,  he  observed  that,  '•  if  we  can  judge  from  the  numbers  s(>ld  ;  not  less  than  seven  jniiUons  oi  ci  pies  ; 
more  than  half,  and  probably  two  thirds  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  tlie  ("nited  Slates  have  received  the  iiidiments  o'' 
their  education  from  the  use  of  that  liook."  And  even  the  jiublishers  of  Mr.  Webster's  book  also  boast  in  their 
advertisements  of  the  milHo^ns  which  have  been  sold,  as  thouah  the  f/vajititics  sold  v  ould  be  a  suthcient  argument 
to  convince  the  enlightened  citizens  of  tuo  ignited  States  that  no  improvement  upon  Rlr.  Webster's  book  can  be 
made,  and  consequently  his  book  is,iimlvivst  uc.the  best!!  Again,  IMr.  Webster  obsierves,  in  .speaking  of  his 
spelhng-bcok,  "The  profits  of  this  work,  though  very  sm«u,  have' n<t  only  been  the  principal  suj-port  of  my  nu- 
merous family,  but  tl.oy  have  enabled  me  to  accomplish  a  diciicnary  of  our  language-,  at  the  ixp'ii.-e  of  ivtrtty 
yean  of  labor,  and  thirty  thousand  dollars  inmo7uy."  Therefore  i  t-iv  he  cannot  with  pnpiiety  state  that  his 
-poverty  or  want  of  patronage  caused  him  to  neglect  the  correction  of  the  Ur/erra  ;nui  cirours  [  oinied  c  ut  by  me  in 
this  review.  Notwithstanding  Mr.  Webster's  spelling-bock  has  been  very  extensively  jiatnnised,  and  he  has  re- 
ceived thousands  of  dollars  from  the  American  citi'/.ens,  yet  he  has  sufieifd  these  enouvs  to  remain  in  his  biok 
year  after  vear,  wfthout  correction  ;  [see  page  32  ;1  and  then  he  is  so  incon^;iitcnt  and  ungenerous  as  io  tell  these 
citizens  who  have  thus  patronised  and  supported  him  by  makiiic  sucii  an  e.Men.si  ve  use  of  his  siiel.ing-book.  that  a 
"  species  of  slavery  hantrs  like  a  mill-stone  about  the  neck  of  all  literary  enleiprir.e  m  the  United  States." 

What  Mr.  Webster  considers  "  a  species  of  slavery,"  is,  I  sui'pose,  thecoiKiuct  of  many  of  the  resiiectable  citizens 
in  the  United  States,  who  have  77rfs«?M£d  to  manifest  an  attachment  toll.e  |)rii.c;ples  of  orthography  oiid  orthoepy 
of  Walker's  dictionary  in  preference  to  those  tan L'ht  by  hiin.  Again,  he  obsevves  in  his  appeal,  -as  1  have  been 
preparinsr  a  dictionarv  for  public.ition;  have  for  many  years  been  teased  wiih  the  clan  or  al  (ait  Wa.ker  ;  1  have 
made  a  visit  to  Emrlahd,  and  partly  with  a  view  to  ascertain  the  real  state  of  the  language."  It  is  indeed  (luite  aw?  - 
prising  that  Mr.  Wel)st('r  should  have  visited  England  with  a  "  view  to  ascrrtain  the  real  stale  of  the  language!" 
by  spending  a  few  months  there,  more  [larticularly  as  he  had  previously  condemnid,  without  n  serve,  all  the  Eiig- 
/w/i  dictionaries  now  in  use  !  I  Aeain,  lie  ob.serves.  '•  I  presume.  1  can  select  a  ihunsand  words,  if  not  double  the 
number,  from  Walker's  dictionarv.  marked  lor  a  pronunciation  which  noman  wouiil  venture  lo  use,  in  any  iloctnt 
society  in  that  countrv."  And  ve't  he  has  Jiot  condescended  to  Uirnish  the  citi'/.ens  ol  ihe  United  States  with  ASingLe 
example  of  Mr.  AValker's  indemit  inonunciation  l  Now,  I  would  inquire  of  IMr.  WL-bster  whether  tl.e  jnonunria 
tionof  some  wordssiven  by /i/w  would  be  thus  pronoui.ced  "  in  any  decent  sotieiy''  in  England?  nayta-tur,  vurtu, 
in-sure,  paas,  paant.  daans,  aofter,  (fiat  a)  &c.  :  instead  of  na  tshvrr.  vn-tshue.  in-shvre,  pass,  pan!,  donsK,  after, 
«  short.)  &c.  Mr.  Webster,  fortheimrpo.se.  no  doubt,  of  ovcrthrowinsr  Mr.  Walkers  prii)c:p.es  of  orll.Oiifiohy 
and  pronunciation  at  once,  observed  in  his  appeal,  that -'-if  tl.e  people  of  this  rouniry  uili  have  an  English  book  to 
follosv.  if  nothinjr  but  English  wid  answer,  1  would  recommend  Jones'  dictionaiy  lor  this  purpose.  Jones  is  a 
later  author,  who  seems  to  h:ive followed  Walker  for  the  express  puipo.se  of  coneciing  Ins  erro! s— and  his  woik,  for 
the  simplicitv  and  consistencv  of  his  .scheme,  is  far  preferable  to  any  otlie.r  Briti.sh  pidiLcaiion."  It  Is  truly  astonish- 
ing that  Mr.  Webster  should  ••recommend  Jones'  diciionary"  lo  the  citizens  of  the  I  ni;ed States,  when  Jom.-s  disrt- 
erees  in  orthography  with  Webster's  ?///?oz7«rjo??s  in  every  instance.  -AUd  agrees  with  Walkir,  whose  orthogiaphy 
Mr.  Webster  Ins  no sti-en uousty  condemned!  as  in  the  retention  of  the  tinal  k  in  pii/.iick.  mu-'ick,  e;c. ;  the  re.eii- 
tion  of  the  u  in  unaccented  our,  as  infavotir,  honour,  etc. ;  tiie  termination  re  instej.ii  of  rr.  as  in  rnetre,  sceptre,  etc. 
(See  pasesT.S.  9,  and  Web.ster'sappeal  on  this  .-^ub.iect] :  and  even  Mr.  Janicsnn  published  a  dictionary  in  Lon- 
don in"  1827,  in  which  he  retains  this  orthoErraphy,  so  much  condtmni d  h'^'  I\Ir.  Webster,  and  agrerg  with 
Mr  Walker!  Hence,  ii  must  be  admitted  that  Mr.  Webster's  zeal  for  somoibinjr  oifli'ieni  from  English  led 
him  to  aitopt  innmationi  wdhout  re-rard  to  their  defects,  propriety,  consistency,  or  uniformity ,  for  he  has  not  c«r- 
Tied  -A  single inn'Tvationxhxoxxiih  the  language,  (secpp.7.S,9,lo.li|  :  and,  instead  of  picviucing  ar^-ww/iialo convince 
the  American  people  of  Wtevtilify  of  his  innmatii/ns  in  orthography,  he  ha.s  adopted  an  easur  nit-il.od,  that  of  con- 
liemning  evcrv  English  lexicographer,  without  reserve,  who  has  been  so  prcsnmptuf,us  ami  unfortunate  as  to  dU 
agree  with  hi.s'  (Well,  tor's)  favourite  uotions  cf  innovoiions  in  orthography  '  I  j\£ain,  it  Is  alt^o  rjuite  ."urjnisivg 
that  Mr.  Webster  shou'.-i  '•  recommend"  Jones'  {ironunciation  to  the  American  people,  when  Jones  e/*f/ers  uiore  from 
Webster's  pronunciation  than  he  does  from  Walker's  '.  !  As  in  sfundir.g  a  or  au  like  broad  a  Ion-.'  wnen  followed 
ny /and  another  conivinani,  as  in  srt''^fff^.•l'^  etc. :  a  long  ininii:el,  danc'cr.  .(naiigc.  etc. ;  « like?  short  in  the  ter- 
mination age.  as  in  c,abb:ige,  etc.  ;  e  and  o  like  u-  short  in  the  termination  or.vaini  rry,  as  in  giocery,  amatorj',  etc. ; 
olike  0  in  not  when  folliAved  r.y /f,  sc,  or  st,  as  in  loft,  less,  and  lest,  etc. ;  i  like  r  short  in  many  words  when  fol- 
lowed by  rand  aiiotherronsonant  as  in  circuit,  virsin,  circular,  etc.  ;  (see  p;tge  ^41;  u,  ue,vi,ov  eir.Wke  oowhea 
f  receded  by  r,  as  in  biuie.  brvit.  tnw,  crew,  etc.  ;  i  like  y  in  mimy  words.as  lolio,  geniu.s,  etc.  ;  c>  v.nd  ti  like  s?ie  in 
the  termination  date  and  tiate.  ^s  in  associate,  nesotiate,  and  in  a'^sociation,  negotiation,  etc.  :  a  like  z  in  the  prefix 
dwwhen  followed  by  an  accenied  syllable  beginning  with  a  Hat  consonant;  Hike  tsh  when  followed  bykngM 
preceded  by  the  accent,  as  in  natuxe,  virtue,  etc. :  t  silent  when  preceded  by  s  and  followed  by  the  termination  la 
as  in  bustle,  castle,  etc.  :  and  In  the  ar.c/iitvaiiun  of  a  great  manv  words,  as  ho.  izon,  contcniiihde,  demonstrate,  ac- 
ceptable, etc.  etc..  in  all  of  whichand  hundreds  of  others  Jones  disa^rfes  with  Webster  !  and  agrees  with  Walker. 
Thus  I  have  given  a  thorough  e>i)Cslt;on  of  what  1  ha^e  ronsideVrd ricfrc^";^.  coutradiclori/.  or  inco^isisfrnt,  in 
Mr.  Webster's  spellini:-'oOok,  srJiool  dictionarv,  and  in  his  APPE.M-  "TO  THE  PUBLIC':,""  for  the  purpose  of 
exciting  interest  and  inquiry,  and  thereby  renderins  a  benefit  tnmv  fellmv-citizens,  by  enabling  them  to  determina 
whether  Mr.  Webster  has  paid  that  attention  lothe  i7uj>rovc7ueni and  correaion  of  his  spelling-book,  which  tho 
extensive  patronage  he  Jias  recived  from  Ihe  people  of  lae  United  Stales  required  of  him  ;  and  whether.  In  Us 
present  sute,  U  sbuold  be  retained  in  our  schools. 


REVIEV/ 

OP 


Webster's  ELEMENTARY  SPELLINGBOOK, 
COMPILED  BY  AARON  E:.Y. 


'fhe  Froprietor  of  the  ElemenUfv  Spelling-Book  has  tak<?n  much  pains  Mccnpile,  in  rpamphl^'f  Aji-m.aniniposllur 
list  of  recoiiiniciiJill  ns  of  that  work  in  omiievioii  wiili  th!,>.se of  hH  Oicii.uiirie.s.  TUs  p uniililet  hn-  w.-en  wiiteiy 
circulate  l.ina  the  iecnmmoi;>!ation-!  nre  Ciiiculareil  to  impress  the  puhlicA  nindwith  le  belief  tliat  U\e  Ele/n^nraiy 
St»elliiiaBoO::  is  iinilorm  in  iU  culiO'-jiaphy,  pri  nunciaii<  u,  atiil  cias'^itiction,  and  or  tins  rca>oii  is  worthy  ol 
bcirij?  ad  ipt-'a  in  our  sr.il  i)ls  ami  aci  l-.nies.  U|»on  whit  principle  tlies*  iniquaiifid  recoinniendatior.s  ol'  ThU 
wor!<'  hav,-  heen  piven  it  is  ditficuU  so  deterniiji-? ;  sinx*  in  all  tlie.^c  particil.ns  it  is  ir  mo  c  erroneous  and  defec- 
tive tlcan  tlie  Auieiiain  S;)el.in,'  Booc.  I  do  nor  inieiid  that  this  t<.rt  .-.lall  vest  non  hare  asseilion.  hut  upon 
proots  Which  I  c'laden^'e  Air.  Webster  and  all  his  friends  (•>  •rainsay.  I  ain  .wire  that  n  savin?  this,  I  am  caliing  iu 
question  the  ceitif.ctf.^scf  men  of  ?. cat  erudnion  and  practical  o.pcriciiceiii  variou.  departments  of  literature  — 
mm  whose  lireary  r-pntation  and  public  :  functions  present  an  awful  prpundrraiie  to  my  sin;;le  counterijoise  ; 
but  I  rest  .^ecure  in  the  irre^i-t  iile  firce  of  irutii,  and  the  sincerity  of  niACoiiviciios,  while  I  hesitate  net  to  say 
that  it  would  better  coai-  ort  >vitli  the  principles  of  juslicfl  and  the  interests  <f  society,  )r  gentlemen  to  state  where- 
in 'hisco  npilation  by  Atr.  Ely  is  p;elenible  toother  bo  ^ks  dosi^ncd  for  iiUi notion, than  barely  toasterl  it,  ho>/ 
imposing  so?ver  may  be  the  weitrl.t  of  their  n:iinf;s. 

If  the  question  wore— wh'Mher  Air.  Wf;b4cr  is  entitled  to  re.-pect  for  his  nbours  asi  Lex iry->sranher— there  could 
be  n-Mlivi.-rsif.-  .if  opinion  ;  hut  when  it  l^alli'.i"-'d  that  h':  I. as  rcJncod  the  orthnirrahy  to  uniformity -or  even  ail 
aitproximation  towards  it— orthd  his  Dictionaries  are  nwre  accurate  in  thi  paiiicul:'  than  those  of  Johnson  and 
Walter— or  that  the  A'A'w^/i/f/ry  Spollinj-Book  is  less  ronfrculictory  in  ths  particuir  than  otiiers,  the  alle^atiou 
requires  somcthinir  more  than  bare  assertion— soaiclhing  more  llian  sencal  paneg3"ick  to;;;ve  it  currency  wiil> 
the  Ameittviii  people. 

However  laudable  may  have  been  the  motives  of  the  individuals  who  hn-e  thus  let  thr^  Influence  of  their  names 
to  2ivc  popularity  to  these  works,  I  fully  believe  I  hazard  little  in  exprcs  ins  a  debt  whether  all  or  any  of  ihem 
have  'in  Isreone  the  labour  i>ecess.->ry  to  w.irrant  these,  in  genenil,  unqnalifiid  tesiimoials.  some  of  which  were  given 
In  anticipitioii  of  the  pubiica'i  >ns  "o  woich  tiiey  refer.  Were  I  not  p-^rsunal!.*  acquaimd  with  the  fact  tliat  in  tins  ciiy 
m"ettn'-'sof  fr^achers  were  had  for  the  pinfigse  of  s?rurin;;  pledges  to  suppot  the  ZT/if/iCn/rt/j/SpellingB'Xikand  !)uo- 
decira  >  Dictionary  which  were  thcnun|)ui)  islic  1,  that  Air.  Webster  attendel  these  nittir.irs  inpersoii  for  the  purpose 
ef  0  •  ■.ainiin:  Ins  pvinciplr^s  and  eulozizini  his  own  liooks— that  at  one  )f  tiie-envHini.'s  acomuiittec  previously 
appointel  male  a  report  com'nendiii'.'ilic  Elementary  .SpelliRS-BoCik.  aniltTeiir.'  tiie  doption  of  that  report  upon  the 
authority— 'hat  one  ofthecominilte?  ''  had  seen  the  boofr,  in  mrtituscript"fli\:n  at  a  sbst-qnent  peri(vl  the  most  un- 
war  ant.ilile  mea  aires  were  adopted  by  the  frieiiil?  of  .Mr.  Webster,  to  pronire  an  crlorsement  tor  this  compilation 
by  th*;  teachers  in  this  city,  which  failed  except  .is  to  a  few  individuals -a  id,  were  liot  personally  arqnainteil  with 
the  namcle-'s  devices  which  have  been  resorted  to  -for  the  purpose  of  fotcin^'  liicsnmblications  upon  the  commu- 
nitv— Imieht  suspect  mvself  snilty  of  illiberaiity  in  espressin:.'  this  dou>t:  but  ijosessinsr  the  knowle»i;?c  I  do  In 
relation  to  this  matter,  and  knowinir  also  froine.xnerience  the  time  and  amplication  equi.-iie  to  form  a  onvvcx  opin- 
wti  of  their  merits— I  .im  irresistibly  impelled  to  the  conclusion,  that  perjonal  frierishipJuis  conlribu'.ed  largely  to 
ihe  procuring  of  thp«:e  recoinnienda'ions. 

Ano'her  part  of  this  pamphlet  is  n'orthy  of  a  passing  remirk.  For  th;  pur)iose)f  disseminatine  more  widely 
than  could  be  done  through  ti.e  medium  of  the  qu:irto  dictionary,  Mr.  Wostor  hastoucht  p'oiKjr  to  publish  in  this 
pamph'f^t,  by  a  liberal  extract  fiom  the  in'rodncrion  to  that  work,  his  dlen  rLf>e:ied.  rc.it  unwarrantable  allackj 
Ujx"<n  WalkeV.    Why  this  releiul'^s-  warfare  njion  thedeal.  •'  ichose  inorrj*  irr.rr  notr  kvotrn" T 

The  truth  of  the  matt/^r  is,  Mr.  NVebsfer  wi-ll  knows  that  Walk»rdi<  more  thai  any  other  individual  to  render 
analogous  the  orthoepy  and  orthorri]>hy  of  the  Irimniaire- thnf  his  princi)!es  are  ainosi  universally  adopted  in  this 
country  and  in  Knelahil-and  that  in  rha'  country  as  "well  as  in  thi.:,  "iAc  iii-.tgeo''  irell-bred  pxnpl'"  is  derived 
from  that  ^oithor,  instead  of  '  formin?  a  aulde,"  as  he  would  havens  louailerstand  How  preposterous  the  Idea  thai 
In  a  country  like  that  of  En£rland.wh'res''icnce  shells  her  lucid  beams  vith  P-fuI.eiit  .-plen  lour,  there  shouM  be 
in  thi?  branch  of  Philf'lO'.ry  no  ?n!do  hut  th»  varyins  and  c  ipriciou<  usrire  of  ••  jroid  society." 

.Mr.  Webster  has  stated  in  the  prrficc  to  thi-=  work,  that  '  it  is  df>si£n"d  as  ar  improvement  on  the  Ainenau^ 
Ppetling-Book  ;"  and.  he  also  adds,  "the  classification,  which  Wiis  imperfect  in  hat  work,  is  here  conipleteu,  an4 
the  few  errors  in  orthO'.'raphy  and  pronunciation,  whirii  occur  in  that  a/-<  co;;(?,7etf  In  this  work."  It  i«,  therfr- 
fore.  presunT^fl  that  neither  .Mr.  Webst'^r  inr  his  friends  will  consid'-r  t  un.t:nr  li  me  to  i»i^int  out  what  Tconsider 
err'^irji'niM.  co'irriiWronj.wwA  in'f/nsi^rrnt  \\\  the  onhoirraplu,  proninri>tion.  classiilcation,  arraiifreniont.  ami 
divi.ion  of  wor-is;  more  particularly,  as  the  proprietor  (Mr  Web-icr)  ha-j  h  id  tie  work  before  him  mine  than  r«fKl 
ymrs:  and  has  therefore  hid  an  oppnrtunity  to  correct  anv   hhivdtrx  n\v\*\<v  (lie  compiler  iMr.  Flv.) 

Keforc  entering  upon  an  examination  of  this  work,  I  will  state  'as  was  stited  on  pau'c  29)  what  I  consider  the  Iftid. 
1n^  characteristicks  of  such  a  j^jKJiiing-B.X);;  as  1  should  deem  worlii."' ofj^i  ^encial  mlr.xUiction  lido  oar  primary 
school  .s. 

1  It  should  cnt.dn  astrrcat  anuniberof  Ihe  words  in  common  use  a;  p^ctirahle,  to  the  c.xriusion  ofextraneoua 
and  lrn»lov.ani  mattrr-.  as  in  my  who  attend  our  primary  schools  have  noplher  opportunity  of  acquiring  a  correct 
Knowledge  of  the  elements  of  our  lan^uaiie.  [ 

J.  The  clnssi/ication  of  words  .^houlJ  be  judicious  and  distinct ;  and  tl id  system  adopted  be  strictly  and  correctly 
adhe-vl  to.  ' 

3  The  fjrr<tnT'7ncnt  should  tic  plain  and  simiilc,  with  a  due  regard  t»tM  expanding  ca|»acitics  and  the  progressive 
Imprwement  of  the  learner.  • 

4.  In  orthoeraphif  and  orthnrpy  it  should  con esytond  with  flie standard  dictior:arvof  thccountrv.  or  strictly 
conform  with  the  prlndplesof  tlie  work  it  piofess.s  to  follow :  for  Wwdiitionart/,  and  not  lUeHpril'riT-hooic.  must  b<9 
the  standard  of  reference;  and  hence  the  import.incc  lorihe  unifo.-ii'f  and  rorieriness  of  our  lansuagu.  thallho 
latttr  work  :;houId  be  founded  and  carefully  coirsiructcd  upon  tlic  priac.fles  of  the  former. 

CONTEMT.S. 

This  spell  in  jrh'iok  comprises  irs  paios,  ronfninins  ahont  nine  tliou^and  words,  arrm-red  in  spellins  lessons, 
!nter-per<w»d  witli  readinir  Ie<:<'nns,  c^'nipo<.-.l  of  deiarh-d  sentfnr.es  In  the  selection  of  the  wonls  coiit.iined  In 
the  lessons  for  spelling',  Mr.  Ely  stems  to  have  used  but  little  d»*;rcili^,  or  dlscrimiration ;  for,  he  has  nol  Inserted 


•  Rtirely  if  ihc  dicticuary  of  Walker  w.is  heretofore  nni  Itnnwn  i^vpti  to  M(m»'en  oflhr  Brl'Uh  Purlinmfiit  until  thev  viiK.- I  lhl» 
country,  tn'-h  .1  circiimTi.-nicc  can  never  licri'afu.T  Imppon  wln^re  iHe  |  iilihoaiinns  nf  t'lp  Aincrii.-nn  I.cxi  -oyr.iptwi  li*vr  fomi<|  %n  Inirc- 
duclioii.  The  followine  is  an  cxtmci  from  Mr.  WMmipr's  f)iim|ihl"t.  (i.ig»  hi.  Th  n,  "  Walker  In  not  And  never  has  U-rn  «  MAivlanl 
■DthQr  in  Enclnnd  ;  nnri  it  i^  mmarkat)!;  that  ihf-  Mi^mbpri  uT  i'arluimuii,  'sOm  risttad  Ihia  coumrx  •  >«v  yean  sgj^  nid  l^r  h«4 
■«TW  b«ani  of  liiai  oulhor  till  ibi-/  vuna  to  tiui  couiiiry^ 


58 


Tetster 


are  they  to  be  foiuii  in  ]\; 
of  the  Jiiost  C0Ki?nGJi  wor.p 

Fii-st :— thus,  abide,  r-boum 
uclLeveinent,  ackiiowle  Ige,  ii 
agree,  ahinn,   alleclge,  aoibi: 
apprentice,   iipril,   :irdur,   arde 
aiieiutaiice,  auxiliary,  avuiJ 


WebsW 


uaie,  adi'-i 
alyze 


ELEMENTARY  SPELLmG-BOOK, 


wear  all  otthe  worls  lii  n  «t  coranin  use ;  while  he  ha^  inserted  a  great  miiny  worjs  not  In  comirion  «so ;  nelthef 
s  duodecimo  sciiool  dictionary.  The  followinif  list  forms  but  a  small  jioriUm 
Ir.  Ely  has  tmirely  ojiiitCcd,  and  which  should  be  in  every  spelling  book  I 


about,  at  ve,  abrid^ 


"jridgment,  absence,  absorb,  abstain,  abyss,  acceptable,  acconipauy,  accordi 


rui,  admitiaQCC,  a»1vance,  advantage,  adverb,  advice,  amrin,  uQbrd 


agamcti 


.  again, 
I  animal,  announce,   anxiety,   anxious,  apocrypha,  aposlle,   appall,   ap|.laiid.   apj 

range,    artifice,  assemble,   assuage,   assurance,  astronomy,   asyluiu,  atlacki 
ve,  aiu.-e,  laby,  Uitfnce,  bald,  banish,  bamize,  bargain,  beard,  because,  belief,  believe,  beware,  biait 
hlusiibeme,  blind,  bomb,  bouc  ge,  book,  loamy,    j-eakfast,  bridegoom,  bright,  l>ruise,  build,  burlesque,  cabbage,    cabinet,  cudeniKi 
Ciiilus,  canal,  candidate,  capil  .  •--■   i        •  -  ■  .        •         ...  ... 

«liariiy,  clitioC,  ch.istiscmeui, 

(•-.gc,  column,  combat,  comet,  :oi:una,  ccjnmaiid,  commence,  commerce,  committee,  community,  compact,  comj.eiis:tte,  compiler 
comrade,  compromise,  conce:  ;,  concord  concourse,  couf.donce,  confirm,  connoisseur,  consul,  conteiuplale,  convince,  coriiiiUr 
-•e,  couiitrj-,  couragi  courtesy,  jovet,  crer.lure,  credit,  criminal,  crowd,  cruoify,  cruise,  crysial,  euUivalc,  cunning,  cup' 
bo.'u-d,  cushion,  duiry,  damage  Ma  nee,  dca  i,  debtor,  deceive,  decree,  disgust,  dispose,  divorce,  divulge,  dogma,  door,  dote,  dragon, 
drama,  drink,  drown,  drowse,  Ichess,  duijiess,  dumb,  duplicity,  dyspepsy,  eclat,  eclipse,  ecslacy,  educate,  eighth,  elap.«e,  electricity, 
tieotrify,  elegance,  element,  elekte,  elevatin,  eloquence,  eloquent,  embezzle,  embrace,  emigrant,  eminence,  empty,  enable,  enchaut, 
encircle,  encompr.5s,  endurane4enf.)rce,  eitage,  enhance,  enlarge,  entitle,  entrance;  enueaty,  epuuiet,  epigraph,  equator,  equivalent, 


essence,  eiiquet,  eulogy,  evangicaV.  ev&ndlii>t,  evening,  evidence,  evident,  evil,  evnice,  excellence,  exchange,  exchequer,  excise) 

exclude,  exclusion,  eximmunicaW  excuse,  {«  )  exercise,  exit,  expand,  expect,  expedition,  expend,  expense,  extericnce, 

nge,  exqulite,  extension,  exu-eine,  larce,  farmer,  fashion,  fatigue,  female,  fence,  ferriage,  field, -(ieutl. 


excite,  exclude,  exclusion,  eximmunicaw 

experiment,  explode,  expose,  ex  inffe,  exquliw;,  CA..C.1S..WIJ,  ci.u cue,  «uv,c.  1.11  »ut»,  ..tsuiui.^ I 

fierce,  finance,  fiae,  finess,  finis,  r,  fire,  firi;i,  Bight,  floor,  fluid,  foe,  foliage,  follow,  font,  toot,Torce,  ford,  form,  fortify"   foriy,'  fosse, 

foundery.  fountain,  franchise,  \  ind,  fi-olicL  frost,  frugal,  furnace,  fiiiy,  futurity,  gammut,  gaunt,  general,  geology,  glance,  gouge, 

^ovenunent,  governor,  gradual,  ratify,  grafinde,  gravity,  graze,  grievance,  grieve,  grind,  groove,  grope,  gross.,  group,  guaranty, 

phiea,  gypsum,  halloo,  handsome,  hara.ss,  jarpsichonl,   hatchet,  haughty,   havock,  hazard,   hearken,  hearty,  helmet,  helve,  hence. 


harcof,  heritage,  hesiuilion,  her(  le,  hinder; 
hose,  host,  hotel,  hover,  huge,  h  nan,  hiuiiii ,. 
imbiuer,  immoral,  inipaiieiice,    ipoverisii, 
impudence,  inclu-ie,  inco.nic,  indt  l,  indul;:.-.  i 
inspect,  install,  instance,  instea     instigiit-.   u-   .    .  . 
intrude,  invent,  invoke,  inward,  ff.vrap,  isol  (p.  j^mil) 


s,  homage,  home,  homely,  hone,  honest,  honesty,  hood,  hooj.-,  horrid,  I 

;r    ',   h'.irricane,  husband,  identify,  ignorance,  illness,  ima^e,  imbibe,  inibaiilti 

.,,He,  impend,  impenitent,  imperlectioa,  impertinence,  mipertance,   imply, 

;,   uiilame,  iurtuence,  iafringe,  ingraft,  inhale,   initial,   innocence,  insinuate, 

-i.iiice.  intercede,  intercourse,  interval,   interview,   into,  intiigue,   introduce, 

jeoixarj, ....  -      - 


joiner,  jovial,  judghient,  judicious,  juice,  jury,  justice,  justify,  jiive- 
it,  lateral,  lathe,  latitude,   laudable,  laurel,  leisure,  lemonade,  leopard, 


nilc,   keel,  kmiuess,  kindred,  laib,  lance,  i^truor,  lapse,   lal 
liberal,   libev.ale,   liberty,   library  license,   1;  ■rice     lightning 


la'e"t. 
ryl  license,  lit'rice'  lightning,  lily,  limb,  linen,  linger,  linguist,  litigate,  locate,  locust,  iongitude,'lonli 
lothe,  loathsome,  loyal,  lozenge,kicky,  mac  ne,  machinery,  magnify,  magnitude^ maintain,  majesty,  malady,  malevolence,  malice, 
malignant,  inamma,  manage,  makind,  mam  ,  manual,  margin,  marriage,  martyr,  masomy,  mxsquerade,  maxim,  mechanism,  niedi* 
cine,  meek,  mellow,  menace,  merjful,  mercy  messenger,  milUner,  mimic,  mince,  mineral,  mischief,  niisyy,  mistake,  mitigate,  model, 
modify,  monarchy,  mnnopolize,  ipnosyllablc  inorniug,  mortify,  mountain,  move,  multiplicand,  multiply,  museum,  musical,  Dfiisk- 
Aiclon,  mustard,  muster,  mutilatj  muiii-r,  ijnuiil.  ualiona!,  natural,  nauseous,  naval,  negligence,  niece,  nigh,  nimble,  nineiy, 
nunsense,  northern,  nothing,  noli<,  n.;;  y.  >  i-funent,  nurse,  nutriment,  obedience,  obviate,  occupation,  occurrence,  odor,  oliice, 
olive,  oppose,  orange,  orchiird,  oiii,/  :  ■ .  orthodox,  orthoepy,  outrage,  outrageous,  oxygen,  pagan,  pageantry,  paint,  paint- 

ing, palace,  palm,  palsy,  parade.  Ji\  :  S-,  parcel,  parenthesis,  partake,  participle,  p.-irtner,  partridge,,  passive,  |,aste,  pastry, 

patch,  patent,  patience,  patriot,  pr.  i  j\,  ;  i  miary,  pedagogue,  pedigree,  pelisse,  peninsula,  penitence,  period,  perish,  perquisite, 
P«r«>everance.  persuade^  peruse.  psileiK-e,  phihnUuonist,  philology,  piazza,  picket,  pierce,  pillage,  pious,  pique,  pith,  plaice,  plaiiel, 
plaster,  platoon,  pleurisy,  plunge  i>oison,  poish,  poly.syllable,  positive,  potentate,  poiillioe,  poultry,  pour,  powder,  power,  precede, 
preface,  prejudice,  prescribe,  pre  le,  presivm ,  pretend,  prevent,  prevention,  piiest.  primaiy,  primer,  prince,  privilege,  procedure, 
proiligal,  product,  production,  |Jr  me,  profei.  profligate,  profound,  prolong,  prompt,  prominent,  pronoun,  pronoiinct,  propagate, 
pi-operty.  prapliesy,  proscribe,  pro  ect  proiedion,  protestant,  prov^,  proverb,  provide,  providence,  province,  provoke,  prudence,  prw 
nello.  pudding,  pull,  pulse,  pulpit,  J  nct'ual,  pulctuation,  purchase,  purify,  purpose,  pursue,  pursuit,  putrefy,  putrid,  quadrui^d,  qualify, 
quarantine,  quarto,  quince,  quire,  uit,  radiaibe,  raiiideer  random,  ransom,  rapid,  rarefy,  ratify,  rational,  lavage,  ravel,  rebuke, 
recede,  receptacle,  recline,  reclus*  reoognize,lreiominend,  recommendation,  reconcile,  recovery,  rectify,  reduce,  reef,  refeite,  refuge, 
rfcfiiif.tioii.  leijard,  rejoice,  relapse  relish,  relmtance,  relv.  re;nember,  remembrance,  remittance,  rendezvous,  renounce,  repentance, 
rr;/  .ibaio,  rftj.nl.-,e,  repute,  repmat  i,  reseui'ili  resent,  resentment,  leservatiou,  resolute,  resume,  retarti,  revenge,  reverence,  reverend, 
r<;\iie.  revoln  ion,  reward,  rinse,  val,  roir.alce,  root,  rowel,  mde,  rush,  rust,  sacred,  saci-ifice,  safe,  salad,  sanctify,  sanction, 
*a  ictin',  i.irccn.t,  'Satiate,  satire,  sa  ;fy,  satyr,  Iiusagc.  savage,  savoiy,  scafl'old,  scald,  scale,  scandal,  scarce,  scarlet,  scatter,  schooner, 
wience.  score,  scoundi-el,  scourge  scrawl,  .selede.  seclude,  second,  section,  sed.ice,  seethe,  sentence,  sequel,  serene,  servanf'.  serve. 
airvicR.  servile,  »h;^tter,  shawl,  slie  shelve,  slingle,  shoe,  shoot,  shovel,  shower,  shrink,  shutde,  si>;gc,  sieve,  sigh,  signal,  silence, 
s.nplify,  sinsle,  sink,  sirup,  size,  sl(  ve,  slciJe.  ^"'ice,  slumber,  smuggle,  snare,  sn.tth,  snuff,  soaa,  sodcr,  sofa,  sojourn,  solid,  solilnde, 
»clve,  soot,  sordid,  spaniel,  spatrn.  x'oie.  bpci:i)nlp.  speec^li,  Sj/ino,  spire,  splendid,  spruce,  squeeze,  .stagnant,  stale,  suaiulard,  starve, 
>:tf€d,  steeple,  siigma,  sii.:-.  ■,.  -i,  .  ^:<  ;.  .  ^■.  /•'.;  ;■  ^  :  n-rle,  stream,  slnmp,  sublime,  subscribe,  siibside,  subtle,  sticcessioc, 
«.iliin-b,  sudden,  siitiice.  snr'  -I  -   iJiib,  su]>ei-scde,  supply,  suppose,  supreme,  surface,  suiTirise,  suito- 

gite,  surround,  curvivor.  si-  .  -   ;  •.      swivel,  ewortl,  synipalliize,  synod,  syringe,  tailor,   taint,  lalun, 

itmk.ard,  ta.ste.  t^lller,  |siii_'n'  i  '•  ■  !  i  vn,  i  .  i  ii  ;.  ;  m -■.  uirace,  testify,  theft,  ihrougn,  tinge,  tolerate,  tori>id,  torrid,  tortoise, 
to>-s,  totter,  toTich.  tough,  icv.-.uds,  hue!,  tow  I'H  ivaditu'ii,  traaiice,  trance,  transcribe,  trei\sury.  tremendous,  trespass,  trophy,  ti-opic, 
u-owel.  li-rnisurs,  mice.  true,  truly, |-ustee.  tuitijui.  tune,  turf,  turkey,  tiiruep,  liirnpike,  twist,  iigly,  understand,  ucdertake,  uniform, 
union,  unit,  unity,  universal,  uuripl  unroll,  iihruiy,  unsteady,  upbraid,  upwards,  usual,  utility,  utter,  trtteiance,  vacate,  vacation, 
v:»»abond.  valve,  vanquisli.  variaud  various,  vtlipmence,  vendue,  venerable,  vengeance,  venture,  vei-.icity.  verdigris,  verily,  vestige, 
viiify,  village,  viiidicaie,  viol,  violeLe,  violent,  violet,  violin,  virgin,  virginity,  virtuous,  visage,  visible,  vision,  visitor,  vivirL  vote, 
vouch,  vowel,  voyaee.  vulliir,  wag,  w.ieonen  v.'aiul.  wanton,  warden,  warn,  warp,  wave,  wedding,  welcome,  weld,  wliiffleiitc, 
whohj.ile,  wicked,  wife,  windlass,1ilt,  wing,  jire,  wiih,  withhold,  without,  withstand,  wizai-d,  woe,  woman,  word,  world,  worse, 
worstp<I.  wranci'',  wnoV.  wrench,  trelch,  writ.  writ,  w  ruing,  wrung,  yani,  yesterday,  yield,  young,  zodiac,  zoohgj-,  tc.  ,tc.  &o. 
—about  ONK  THOUSAND  WOHIB  are  7!0t  ti^be  foi;;id,  aiy  bne  of  tlwai,  in  any  s^jtll.ng  lc^^on  of  the  book  !  f ! 

.Secondly :— ;ind  vet,  such  wii-d.s  as  clumi),  paj.e  23.  coot,  moot  p.  30,  gaff,  drff,  f:)yn  p.  32,  umber  p.  35, 
pn()2,?.c:ir.<ei).  ?6,  I'letony,  scanfrionv.  lacpry  )).  41.  dorsal,  anil,  fanlel  p.  41,  ancillary.  e.\crelory  corollary  p.  .",3, 
palmftto  p.  r,4,  slcn7y.  scquoit  ifoSjViecrcjal,  favrr  ro.advowson  p,  59,  tenri.^,  faliby  ji. 61,  poivizlof  p.  fis,  ;ul.iiidicatc, 
repudiate,  tnrtareon.s  |).  63.  patnbns,  p.  6T,rieV.'Ulon3,  graTiuloti.',  chnmfer,  mav.'kish  u.  63,  ostracism,  pentzt^on  )>.  69, 
lixivird,  Qnadrennial  ji.  76  lazifetto  p.  81.  etviinn  p.  P2,  propinfudty.  nridify,  fftttiuUty  p.  9U.  cat:.|.«lt,  n  endicnnt 
p.  OT,  redolent  p,  94,  taii2ibititv,locnla[-itvJ  imn.ohilitv  p.  95,  percolation  p.  9S.  moilmain,  vervnin  p.  IC4.  stah'criJe, 
hortidan.  protocol  p.  105,  inco^nno,  or'iiciiiar  p.  lio,  p?troletini,  cerulean  p.  If.?,  acetous,  concavou.s  p.  116,  tvociiee, 
iachvymal,  heptarchy  p,  123,  broiehotomy.iOL'i-d  p.  {lA.  iiremmition,  meretriciou.<  p  \2^.  druidic.  hermetic,  liiciific, 
scorVVnt'Cp.  12!).  ervnjro.  syrinsial).  135.  jrnb-,fir'..-m.  ?nar.  knout,  Knur  p,  136,  <tc.  &c.  which  are  less  used,  and  con- 
sequently a  knowledire  of  their  ottho2npli}of  less  impoitanne.  have  betMi  inserted  to  the  exclusion  of  llie  precodin^ 
Class:  :md  ethers  equally  iniport;\nt  wkirlilhnve  lieen  omined  by  Mr.  Ely! 

Thirdly :  -Mr.  Rlv  has  mnitted  eiifin  ddisrs  of  words,  or  he  has  inserted  but  few  of  them.  He  has  not.  in  anv  of 
the  sjiellincr  lesions',  inserted  one  of  th;d;W;  of  v,  ords  endiinr  in  .ff\  which  Mr.  Webster  spells  with  -insrle  f  in  hi? 
qii:ir?  1  and  duodecimo  dictionaries  :  tins,  hailif,  cuitif.  dandrnf,  nla^tif.  pl;iintif  pontii".  restif.  sherif,  undersherif. 
di.sfaff.  tnidrif,tarif,do  «-,rai)pe:n-  in  thf  b  »k.  f.Mr.  Ely,  in  a  communication,  published  in  the  New  York  Evening 
Post,  \\vz.  'n.  1329,  stated,  that  '-Tiievwen'  in  the  manuscriiit  which  he  wrot'\  and  tl.cy  must  be  inserted  in  the 
next  pdiTion  of  thespf^iline-lr.o'c.' !]  ilMttheT  Lave  not  yet  bef-n  inserted.  The  cliiss  of  words  which  end  in  crd,  K^yc*'(^\, 
pmree-l,  and  succeed.  (e.\cept  that  e.vceel  islin  a  distinctive  class  of  words  p.  14-1),  i\Ir.  Ely  has  not  inserted  '  Cif  i]ie 
cU.ss  of  words  which  end  in  rr.  air.  Ey  l<iS  in.serted  but  .ro;(r  in  any  of  ilie  sp  Uln^  lessons!  as.  center  p.  43. 
maneuver  p  .")9,  nrlvr:-.  sr-nulcher  p.  123;  bnt  accoutre,  ampliitheatre,  lielleslettres,  concentre,  filire,  lust ro.  metre, 
mitre.  .=ceptvc.  M'^crre.  veh  -bre,  ombre,  netfe,  sabre,  saltpetre,  tlicajre  and  massacre,  do  ^jrr.appenr  in  the  book  !  Of 
the  Jar'.'c  class  (if  words,  (nhuxw.  oni' hnnlrrl  in  number)  wliich  end  in  f/ort  and  c/aw.  composed  of  ./Jz>e  syllables, 
Mr.  I'.lv  h-is  not.  in  anv  of  the  spellins  hssbns.  inserted  but  nim  of  them  !  hs,  sicrnif  cation  p.  138,  exutrgendion, 
rcfri?'  rafir,iT.  -nliritati'n,  felicitation,  irnarinV"""  f-  '^'-  !ii"i'hmetician,  academician,  geometrician  p.  128;  but  ab- 
'ion.  acccntuatioM,  icciVnoodatinn,  acrumiilaticn,  administrat'on,  alleviation,. aninl.ilation, 
I'ion.  ar'trMLitiO'i.  .-.-s.issinatiiiu.  anticipation,  ra'nnniiati.'in,  classiiicarion.  commisentiion, 
■  'er.itiii.M,  consj  iera  ioa.  iMntinuatinn.  deiiherati.ni.  d'  lineatiiMi,  denomination,  discriminri- 
I.,  tlcatioi'.  Iiuniiliatioi;,in<\vporaiion,  insinuation,  intern  L'ation.  inveslipation,  .insfiflcatior!, 
ion,  einn!C!alion_,  examination,  particip.-iiion.  jiromn-.riation.  propitiation,  renunciation,  sanc- 
tificition.  niathpniatician,  illumination,  nmitlpliraMon,  qn.ilificalion.  retaliation.  transfiL'urHtion,  &c.  &c.  iVlr.  Ely 
has  ovtined  cr\i\\T\v  '  A-rain.  many  of  the  words,  in  which,  l\Ir.  Webster,  in  histild  spelling  liook,  pronounced  i 
like  ?/,  lie  now  pionounces  ditferertly.  ;i.=!  Walker,  Mr.  Ely  has  omitted;  as,  folio,  genial,  genius,  convcnici;:, 
auxiliary,  &c.  (tc.  do  not  appear  in  the  bonk  ! 

Asain :  Mr.  Ely  has  inserted  a  great  manv  word.^,  in  the  different  spellinir  le.ssons.  which  are  not  in  Mr,  Webster'3 
duodeci'.no  scliool  dictionary,  and  manv  of  them  are  n^tt  in  common  or  ireneral  tt.se !  This  is  a  great  objection,  par 
Ocularly  as  he  has  omifed  many  words  in  mo6r.mmmcn  use!  Thus.  Uib,  eib.  hub,  lub.  lac.  sac,  soc,  sed,  pid.  li'L 
Icam,  ixm,  mam  v.  20,  dum,  dan,  kip  p.  21,  roij,  mice,  woke  p.  22,  iculp,  lunes,  baft  p.  23,  baj.t  p.  si,  ;iJiib,  diiu. 


breviary 
apiiropr 
Comiii;ii 
tion,  en  I 
ni's(5ciat!oii,  capit 


COMPILED  BY  AAilON  ELY.  39 

brel,  brit  p.  2:. fiook  p.  30,  siic!:,  wcik,  iiU,  bask  p.  31,  lusk, burl,  d^rn,  trass, cess  n32,  Wd^e,  gul;;i,  ha'ch.  potch  p. 
8S,  nftaf  p.  39,  n&tl  p.  40,  cmieo'  P-  41,  awk  p.  47,  coiapooit';  \i.  53.  liJUcr  p.  oH,  poifent  p.  5i,  iiccrnl,  jr^'umeii,  lum- 
h-i^op.  59,  classis,  seiitrj*  p.  6i,  ba-^ke!,  walifcl  p.  fc-?,  liiCkcm  p.  Cd,  cujuas.  caiieip.  7u,  irusii-um,  twniUbill  p.  73, 
nuinlop,  calix,  p.  74,  ;is.>cv.jrn.te  p.  7d.  inspire  p.  7i,  pcnuuic  p.  ?:<,  tlla^l.^  ruilAme;iu,  liaih,  tiiirl  p.  b4,  lx)w- 
line  p.  !55,  lurquuis  p.  8a,  tuicfiaiiy,  suii.iany  j).  yo,  apiicliiiiuiy  p.  91,  .supi).iii;oi-y,V"ib.HJV"ieiicy  ».  !*-2,  Uk^gibility, 
deslructibility  p.  93,  discr-  pmt,  lolr^iuni,  sublunar  p.  i/l,  ianclVL'iiency.diaaiion  p.  9.  veilei-ali;  |).  loa,  lieniisuch  p. 
106,  causeway  p.  lo7,  impciceptibiiitv,  iiiir)i;<!lt.tbiliiy  p.  113,  pleUiory,  urethra,  ocaitbu*,  biblioih«:itl  p.  114,  tush, 
iwixt  p.  117.  hitiie  p.  lis,  whiik  p.  lis,  eAU,--t.on  p.  r^l,  nuiiious  p.  152,  acliut,  cliniic*  p.  123,  coecer,  JO^'J,'ing. 
Bhragijin:.',  lugi,'in^',  fas;;ed,  faij'.;in2,  '^a^i'^tid,  ijapfeing,  Inaisjoil,  ua^gcd,  fai;,'il  (>.  ki,  neinlacity,  liciious  p.  126, 
ambitious  p.  1/7.  acronlc,  .sophistic,  syuinietric  p.  1:^9,  analogic,  asirDnornic.  IxiromeWic.  c*tecb'.-iic,  categoric,  chro- 
nologic, eremitic,  cxe^'ciu:.  g-olOijic,  Keomelnc,  livpocritic,  hyperbolic,  iiyiiothetic.  ijriodc,  piiiiolc.jic,  theologlc, 
lypograpbic,  zoog rapine  p.  uu,  entjuio'.ogic,  gcneaiogic,  lexicographic,  oniitliolotac.VteoUgic,  jihysiologic,  ichlhy- 
ologic.  livninic.  cliiniic  i  .  bisiautliic,  tlieoric  p.  131,  Ion  this  page,  131,  second  coiuniA  conaiuiii;.'  seven  \vord.s,  six 
are  nof  in  Webster's  school  dictionary :]  hulolheiiin,  raiioaalisin,  scholastici.-sni,  Uriinatize  p.  13-2,  bestialize,  car- 
rtlntlizc,  citizentze,  ethereali^e,  gelatinize,  nieifton/.e.  pro<Ug;dize,  proselyiize,  vitriqize,  ^heveriiizc  p.  133,  sang, 
stringer,  langle  p.  134,  knarl  p.  136,  lascinc  p.  137,  lai.en,  graven,  loaden,  sliudun,  striken,  Siiiken  p.  139.  wrcathen, 
forgotten,  an.sen,  dcaconc-ss,  diasuJe,  hypailai:e  p.  HO,  skittle,  wimple  p.  142,  ett'al»ic  p.  143,  beaux,  does,  wtys. 
woi'nb  p.  154,  league  p.  IM,— amounting  to  0-\E  HL'NDREl)  AND  iJiGHTY  SIX  W"(  ilUS-aie  not  to  be  loand  in 
Webster's  school  dicaonary,  altlioush  .Mr.  Liy  nas  in.serteu  tlieni  in  the  Speiling-Booki 

Founhlv  :— Mr.  Ely  has,  in  the  difleieiil  bpciliiis  lesson.*,  inserted  the  mmc  word,b/,'0  tr  th.r(>f.  times!  These 
defects  w"ill  be  particularly  pointed  out,  however,  v.-hen  speaking  olclas.sitication.  1-  r^in  Ih-  to.ou'Oing  expoeition, 
it  will  be  rsadily  perceived  thai  in  consequcnc<j  of  the  fewness  of  tne  words  insenedlt)y  -■\  r.  £ly  in  the  siwlling 
Icusons  of  Mr.  VVebjter's  spelling-book,  those  ."icholars  wliOUKe  it  will  not  become  ac^iaintid  ciihi-r  with  the  or- 
tliography  or  pronunciation  of  a  great  portion  of  the  most  impo;t;int  word.s  in  our  lans^nui-'C,  ;nd  ei-iKcquently  will 
find  words  in  almost  evco*  sentence  of  their  reading  lessons,  with  the  orthography  or  {"Vo'nuiciaiion  of  which  they 
are  wholly  unacquainted,  not  having  seen  thcin  in  tlic  spelling  lessons  of  the  same  book !  A.«,  shell,  oy.ster,  gas, 
teacher  p.  2S,  starry,  careless,  tr.iveler,  fowler,  iiito.  dancer,  around,  strive,  wickeii  p.  'Z),  scimte.  imace.  likcnesB, 
contemptuous,  servic-,  theft,  allowanc:-,  uliage,  woAi,  wickedne'--.s  p.  42.  single,  ilegrw,  oipiidj.  cxch.tnge,  becauso, 
above,  bodv,  judgment,  seduce,  justice  p.  43,  through,  stove,  yard  p.  47,  gambler,  home,  iucUrser,  <ii;:nit»r>'  p.  49, 
countrv,  Inmself,  exercise,  relish,  child len,  fainish  p.  &'.),  fragrance,  drunkenness,  jiuvenj,  dbsinate,  mineral,  true, 
quadruped,  worldly,  primary,  themselves,  tipplers,  diilEicult,  de\-il  p.  -52,  animal,  inform;(iion, writer,  sticam,  con- 
tribute, oration,  attend,  hearer  p.  53.  library  p.  112,  notiiing,  covetous,  rarely,  siip|X)se,  ueiiionsfably,  false,  aivorco, 
husband,  wife,  incompuliole,  remarkable,  generally,  asbestOa,  sickly  p.  113,  diC.  &c.  are  not  it  aii'y  of  Uie  tpcUins 
lessons  of  the  book  I 

CLASSIFICATION. 

The  primarv-  cbjecls  of  arranging  words  in  distinct  classes,  are,  tlie  designation  of  Ike  vcwcl  and  consonant 
Bound.s.and  theacc-.-niuation  of  syllables  for  the  more  rwidy  acquirement  of  these  l)y  theiearaer.  claMsitication 
and  pronunciation  are  therefore  in  a  great  mea.sure  reciprccul,  and  much  of  the  propriety  or  imiHoprk-ty  acquired 
in  the  latter,  will  depend  upon  the  accuracy  of  the  lonner.  Hence  this  deparlment  should  «ngaae  the  most  .-cnipu- 
ious  attention,  and  accurate  discrimination,  in  cmpiling  a  work  for  elementao' instruction.'  In  Air.  Webster's 
Amcricm  8iiollin2-Book.  the  classitic:ition  isgoverncu  by  the  numhor  and  accejuuaTion  of  syllables,  and  the  suunds 
of  the  vowels  and'consonaiits,  with  additional  tables  for  irregular  word.-:,  ami  words  of  riisrlnctivc  detitiiiions.  In 
this,  the  Elementary  Spelling-Book,  7>{x-  Ely  has,  m  addition  ;o  the  former  classilication,  clalsed  he  words  accord- 
ing to  their  terminatious.  This  addition  does  not  ajipear  to  be  an  in;provrnieiu  on  the  formc\  mode,  helm;  in  mnnv 
cases  inapplicable,  and  .sterns  to  have  led  to  the  insertion  of  a  great  number  of  wonls  in  Udus  \\->iere  the  sound  of 
tJic  vowel  or  consonant  is  not  given,  and  consequently  cm  not  be  learned  ;  and.  to  remedy  wjicii,  hes*'  words  must 
be  again  inserted  in  the  tables,  wliere  tiie  pecuiuar  sound  of  the  letter  is  desninated,  or  their  mahgical  pronuncia- 
tion be  wholly  omirtetl.  Again  ;  3Ir.  Ely  has  inserted  the  mine  word  twice,  of  tlir.x  time.<,  inihe  i'ffitreyit  or  sarnt 
spelling  lesson>:,  throu:,'h  evident  negligcnco,  as  the  repetition  of  tlie  wcrci  was  nor  necessary  to  e.-lnhit  any  pecu- 
liar vowel  or  cons^inant  F^.'und,  not  noted  whoie  the  words  lirsttxrcur  in  the  spelling  le.- .suns.  Ihus.  jtajre  t',  2d 
column. 716  is  inserted  r?tf<>e  in  U)e»a//it  coin  rnii !  Same  paee  and  column  g-<6  is  wrongly  c!;v^sed  it  shuuul  l»eon 
page  124  in  which  "  g  has  its  hard  sound  before  i.  i,  and  y."  Same  page  seventh  column  rW,  aid  it  is  inserted 
again  in  the  next  column  !  S;ime  page  eighth  coiamn  odd.  and  it  is  inserted  again  on  iJarre  W!  -jame  p;ii:e  thir- 
teenth column  ^oi's'  is  inserted  rtr?cc  in  the  samec^iluuin  !  Onp;ige2i,tifih  column  bin,  and' it  is  Iris-iied  ag.iin  en 
page  32,  and  again  on  pa?R  143! !  55amo  page  tJfteenth  colunm,  ^'Ci  is  wrongly  classetl,  il  t  lirtuld  U;  on  jir^rc  124, 
■where  "g  has  its  hard  sound  before  e,  i,  and  y. '  S  ime  i)age  twenty-third  column  xca^,  and  it  fe  in.-frtfd  again  on 
pa:re  55  !  On  page  22,  first  column  jade,  and  it  is  insfrted  aL'ain  <  n  page  42  !  .-^me  p;u:e  tuJce  fe  inserted  tiricf  \n 
the' -seventh  column  !  .Samepiige  twenty-second  roiumn  lan/\,  ;uid  it  is  ;igain  in.s.3rted  on  pnirc  l^  .am:  a^rain  on  pafre 
117:  !  Same  page  and '•olu mil  san«.  and  it  is  inserted  ag.iin  on  the  ncM,  paire  sixih  column  (  On  pave  23,  tirst 
column  title,  inserted  again  on  page  47  !  Stnnepa'.'e  tenth  column  ^hnp,  and  ci:rh!eenth  columiiJ-i/ir  botii  wronglv 
classed,  and  they  are  both  again  insetted  on  jiage  lil  where  thiy  should  be  with  "  words  in  whiclTi'-  ii  !i;ud  before  e, 
i,  and  y  '"  Same  page  nineteenth  column  ?«/., and  it  is  in.'Kjried  again  on  page  31  !  Same  p:ige  twtniietb  cirlumn 
gilc,  in  which  s  is  hard  before  i,  and  it  is  in.seriet!  a'.r.ain  on  p:iL'e  147  !  Same  column  ??dlt,  iiv-i'*ed  a^.-itn  on  jKvje 
45!  Same  page  twcnty-.second  column  gra/w  and  .v/.-/?;/.  and  teu-y  are  "Ort  inserted  agnin  on  p:i^-47!  on  page  24 
fo.irtli  column  hurt  and-«A<//,  tenth  column  co-si  ajidjirst.  and  eleventh  column  t>t"it ;  and  /mn.  cft.  and  ^,n^t  are 
inserted  again  on  page  3 i,  and  shirt  tmCifu mow  p:ig.,-o.-^ ! !  on  jv-ire  2.t  iecondcilumn  crdar,  in.s»;i^fdig;unon  pagij 
67,  arid  again  on  page  KG  !  !  Same  page  linvd  coiuum  tragrs,  and  it  is  in^vned  again  vr\  jwrre  71 !  .s.inie  colunm 
ti^cr,  wrongly  cla.ssed,  and  it  is  in.scned  a:;ain  on  iiage  124  where  it  siiovld  be  with  "  words  in  which  g  i,  hard  l>eiore 
e^i,  and  y!"  '  Same  column  seXon,  wron:.'iy  cla^sed,  and  it  is  iii.'Hjrted  airdn  on  p;ige  139  where  i|  ^imuld  Ix.'  with 
"  words  in  which  c.  t,  and  o.  before  n,  are  mute :""  .Same  page  sixth  lolumn  oval,  and  it  is  !n>eneti  airiin  on  i>a?e 
87  !  On  pasc  20  fourth  coiumns.'tti.  and  it  is  inserted  a!.'ain  difftuimty  siielied  (stejul)  on  pa^'C  137  !  Him«?  pa-.'c  sixth 
column  sharu,iit\(\  il  is  in.seited  again  on  lUesunu:  page^tzr  ce!u!i".i :  Sameimge  thirtfentli  columii  frnp,  and  it  is 
inserted  aa.ain  differently  spelled  (swap)  oi>  page  47  •  On  p:ige  ii7  sixth  coiumn  scarf,  in>er'ed  a$iin  on  pa"e  47  t 
Bann.-  paire  eighth  column  rich,  in.serted  :igain  0:1  i>age  36 !  Same  column  riiir:h,  inserieil  again  on  the  ^uhn  page 
ei^iiteenlh  ailumn  !  S.nne  pa::e  lourteeiilh  culumn  pouch,  inserted  aLiiin  on  p.i:re  M  1  .Snne  H'^'C  'izhnt nth 
column  critsh,  inserted  ;u^ain  on  p;tge  1 17  !  On  page  25i  f^rst  coUnnn  iirniie,  in.sf-iicd  acain  on  poi'e  7J  ■  Kime  [>;i?:e 
fourth  olumn  devour,  inserted  again  on  page  72  !  On  r^M-'e  29  eiirhth  cohimn  !rrr,  andit  is  in-nrtt-d  .i-Awmhic  |ia*-'e 
next  colunm,  and  again  on  p.-ure  146 !  .Same  i>age  twelfth  column  s^eesc.  wroni-ly  cla-'sed.  and  it  i-^  iniri«il  .igain  on 
pace  124  where  it  should  lie  with  '  words  in  which  ^  is  hard  before  c,  i.  .md  //.'"  On  jwjc  31  tweliihcoiiiun  pink, 
anS  il  is  insened  ;igain  on  fuue  p.<ge  nej.t  rx)lumn  !  On  page  32  thirteenth  column  frill,  .and  it  is  insdrtfNl  a-ain  on 
eajr^pjige  nrxt  column  :  Same  paselweiityfirst  column  ffMf*T,lnseneil;u:ain  oii  pace  45!  On  i»a-u  3  first  colunm 
gpirit,  again  on  jMge  64 !  8.tin>*  pa^e  scTOn>i  coiui:i!i  jwtash.imA  acain  on  pace  is  !  ( ;n  mgf  3.5  first  r^iumn  sluvcr, 
in?:eiicd  aiain  on  paw  56  !   Same  patre  third  coiumn  grntry;\x\A  sui'r-i.  :'.iM  ttr^y  r.r''  hntn  insoru,-d  .T.'aiiuni  p;iire  61  ! 

«5aine  column  gt./'iy  wrinkly  cla-i-ed,  and  it  is  in.-crted  atrain  on  pa:f  i •  ."'/  lie  wKh  ■•  w.v.ls  in  which 

g  Is  hard  before  e,  >.  and  y  !"    On  p:ige  37  eiiilith  column  choir,  wr-  .  ;  it  is  invrtsd  afaln  on  p,i,-e 

123  vthcrc'W.i'hould  he  with  "  woril.-in  winch  c  belore  Alias  the  soim  'Uo  .<chol  ir,  aier  kosh.ill  liive 

learned  the  orthooraphy  of  choir  on  p.  C7.  nius<  pass  itearly  ont-  hiii,   /  .<■  he  will  knot-  its  pronini.ia- 

tion  !  Same  page  ninth  column  noise  and  pi, !>,<■,  and  ihey  -.iwOoih  ui-^'H'  1  .I'.un  on  the  vx:  ]K\si  (3») !  <  qi  piige 
33  first  column  sprout,  and  acain  on  the  sanir  ftai'e  sixth  column  !  ( m  p.nre  jj  tilio  coluain  fluke,  a(id  it  is  li)*eii''<l 
again  on  the  -^ani^  p^ce  next  coiiiinn  !  On  pain;  43  lirst  column  tistrr.  s/rond  coiumn  elder. r\'ni\  third  column  Under ; 
and  all  three  of  them  are  inscrte<l  again  on  j>a;;c  .56  \  On  p:u:e  44  lli>i  column  (Jupprr.  in.-^nrd  a^iin  on  p;u:e  5<5  i 
Same  pane  second  column  lentil,  and  it  is  li«:erted  n?ain  saiiw  \y.vz-  nerf  rolunni  !  i-'amo  column  rrrrl.  iii<rne<i 
aiain  on  pace  72!  On  page  47  twelfth  cr.lnmn  state,  and  again  name  page  »irf/roiiimn  !  On  papc  48  first  column 
dignity,  wrongly  classed,  inserted  a'.'ain  wiivve  It  shmild  b-j  on  i«u:c  Vi^  1  Same  |xig"  third  column  usury,  wmivriy 
classed,  should  Ins  on  p;.i'e  122  with  words  in  which  *  has  the  sound  of  zh  !  |1  his  word  is  pronouncel  uzury,  "•a« 
z''  In  the  quarto  dictionary,  but  in  the  ocuvo,  a  later  work,  he  hxs  it  uzhuni.  s  like  zh  !\  i  m  iia^re  49  first  cohuno 
incUctneni  and  eicUement,  and  they  are  both  inserted  a.^in  on  page  loi  !    Same  page  thinl  column  enlhrallmtrU, 

•  Th'19  Uis  scholar  nr  teach**  wlU  not  Ktvt-  nnti!  ic  sbMi  bavc  ,-:s.--«:  more  ;h-ui  on*  hi'ndrt'.  prg^s  'hat  t  '.%  t^,tr>X  in  ttion. 


40  Webstrs  ELEMENTARY  SPELLING-BOOK, 

wrongly  classed,  ft  shoui(i  be  or pa^je  1 14  where  the  sound  ofth  is  noted,  and  the  scholar  will  not  know  until  he  thafi 
arrive  at  page  114  wlietli«r  th  lave  the  "as|jiratcil''  or  "  vocal"  sound,  and  only  tiien  l)y  seeing  the  primitive  word 
enihraU  in  which  tlie  souiid  is  io;ett !  Same  column  ama-itment.  uiscrted  a^ain  on  jntpe  !C2 !  On  piige  50  sccoml 
ccilumn  sijmbol,  it  is  inserted  .%'ain  on  pa<re  7i.  ami  aiain  on  p.ii;e  117!  Sam>'  paj;j  tliivd  coiumn  staiine.  iiiserted 
again  on  page  lOS  !  Same  puM  fonrtli  coiunin /«o'/n.'i?,  inieited  ;iHain  on  paiie  88  !  S;i»ie  page  M-venth  coiumn 
triumph,  inserted  again  in  pa.'e  US  !  On  page  51  first  co.uinn  nuiiaZory.  inserted  again  on  the  next  page  (52) !  Siime 
COiUmn  nectsiary.  wrongly  cUssed,  should  be  on  page  125  wirh  words  in  wiiicli  "  c  accented  or  endii.g  a  syllable, 
has  tiie  sound  of  s .'"  s-a(ne  pi?e second  c  >lunin  e.xeinpJartj.  wrongly  classe  i,  it  is  inserted  again  on  p.ise  120  wliere 
It  should  be  with  words  )ji  wlich  •  x  passes  inio  ihe  sound  o( g-i  .'"  Thus,  tlie  scinlar  will  pass  sevtnru  pages  of  the 
boo't  after  le:iming  the  ortiog^raphij  of  exeinp'ary  before  he  will  know  it?  pronunrAation  !  Same  page  third 
eotiimn  adversary,  inscied  a^ain  on  the  next  page  (52) '.  un  page  52  scc'  iid  column  presbytery,  and  it  is  inserted 
again  on  page  C7  i  Heit  onuge  52 prfsbytery  isclas.-ed  witli  words  which  have  "  the  primary  acci'ni  on  the  first 
and  the  secondary  on  <ie  tlird  :"  and  on  page  67  it  is  classed  with  words  •  accented  in  the  first'  only  !  Same 
column  prcia  ory,  inse/ied  ig  lin  on  the  sa»ie  column  !  Same  pase  third  column  le^'islative,  le^slatinr,  legislator, 
all  wrongly  classed,  shnilil  Icon  page  12S  with  words  in  which  "g  cndinir  a  syllable,  has  the  sound  of;  .'"  as  veg- 
etate, ^.c.  On  page  Sl^thirt  coluinn  inclosiire.  disclosure,  composure," exposure,  ^xnd  foreclosure,  7\.\\  wrongly 
classed,  should  he  on  ijt'ze  li2  in  which  s  has  the  s:  und  oi  zh  !  These  live  w  irds  are  all  pron  unc«a,  « as  ^^,in  the 
octavo,  but  in  the  ijuaXo  i/z.-^/js/zreand  c'.'/»pOT;//e  onij- are  so  pronounced!  exposure  HmX  foreclosure  "*af,  z!" 
and  iiKlosure  is  iriveiiwiiloniany  nutation  h'nn  the  s  shall  be  pionrunced  !  In  the  duodecimo  the  »,  in  aP  ofthein, 
is  noted  to  repre  ent  i'  am  here  ;Mr.  Ely  has  them  without  any  notati  )n  whether  "'s  as  z,"  or  as  zh  .'  On  rage  55 
tenth  column  law,  in$rteda^ain  on  same  pane  thiriecnth  column  !  Same  page  seventeenth  column  give  wrongly 
classed, and  it  '\i  in>ciled  iv.Ai\  on  page  124  where  ii  should  he  with  "  words  in  which  g- is  hard  l-Jefore  e.  ?:,  ardy!" 
On  page  58  sea)nd  colnuinia?>/jci',  wrongly  classed,  should  be  rn  iia^re  HI  with  words  in  which  tare,  rare,  ikc-  At 
are  inserted!  un  paje  60  <ec  md  cihxmuuisinthrall.  wrui^ly  classed,  should  be  on  page  114  where  enthrall  is  In- 
serted with  the  souiil  of  f/i  noted!  Same  page  third  column  overvhelrn,  wrongly  classed,  shculd  l)e  on  page  119 
■with  words  in  which  -h  U  pronounced  before  ?p,"  where  inhelm  is  inserted !  Thus"  the  schidar  will  pass  more  than 
fifty  pages  after  learning  the  or;ho?raphy  of  overxiihelm  ijefore  he  will  know  its  pronunciati'jn  ■  On  page  61  first 
column  auctioneer,  vronriy  classed,  .should  Ije  on  page  127  with  "  words  in  which  ce.  ci,  ti.  and  si,  are  pronounced 
as  sh  .'"  Sam-.'  pigesecibd column .y?m:«;ie/-,  brigadier,  grenadier,  and  bombardier,  wrnngly  c!a.ssed.  tln-y  should 
1)6  on  page  137  with  tavmier,  corielier,  cashier,  &c.  &c.  !  S;\me  paire  third  column  coexist  and  pre-exist,  wrongly 
classed,  should  be  o»  pa^'i  420  with  v/ords  in  which  ".r  passes  into  the  sound  of  gz."  where  exist  is  inseried  !  'I'hus, 
the  scholar  Will  pas:  ■s/\£fyp:i.ies  alto  itdinnis  the  orth'jg?aphy  of  coexist  and  preexist  before  he  will  knuw  their 
■pronunciation  !  .Saii"^  cr.umn  overthrow,  wrongly  classed,  should  be  on  p.  84  or  114  wiih  w.-,rds  in  which  the  s  iind 
of  this  noted,  whejc  throic  is  inserted  !  On  page  62  first  c  'liimn  compHnuin.  it  is  inserted  a^ain  on  p'age  94.  and 
again  on  page  146  !  On  page  63  .sixth  column  ?j/iv//2fl>??,  wrongly  classed,  should  be  on  pa^e  120  with  wo ds  in 
which  "I  jiasses  ilto  tie  sound  of  gz,"  \>\:nvc  exuberant.  &c  are  inserted,  and  the  a;  is  followed  liy  an  accented 
syllable  bngmnins  wit.i  a  vowel.  On  page  64  first  column  falcon,  wrongly  tlassed,  should  be  on  page  139  with 
"  words  ill  which  (,  i,  and  o, before  n.  are  mute !"  ?;'.me  page  third  column  congress,  wrongly  cla.sscd,  should  he  on 
page  134  with  woris  in  which  "  the  sound  of  ng  is  close  !"  Same  pace  second  column  dolphin,  inserted  again  on 
page  104  !  On  pace  65  hinl  column  gimblet,  wromrly  classed,  and  it  is  inseited  again  on  page  124  where  it  should 
be  witn  "  words  iH  wlrch  g' has  its  hard  sounu  hefore  f,  ?,  and  ?/.'"  On  jiage  66/ 'rg-fZ/M/,  should  be  on  pace  125, 
where  g'  is  hard  b'lorec  .'  On  page  67  first  colximn  vegetative,  wronnly  classed,  should  t)e  on  page  I2n  with  words 
in  winch  -g  enduis  asyllable,  has  the  sound  oXj."  where  vegetate,  &c.  are  inserted  !  Same  i>age  see -nd  c  -lumn 
Tisionary,  wron^y  classed,  it  should  be  on  )jage  123  with  words  in  which  "  the  terminating  syllable  is  pronouncetl 
z^Krt,"  where  ditision,  A;c.  are  inserted!  Same  column  tuissicnarij,  dictionary,  and  stationary,  all  wrongly 
classed,  they  should  bjon  page  123  with  "  words  in  wliich  ce.  ci,  ti.  and  si,  arc  pionouncpil  as  sh  .'"  Same  pare  third 
column  casuistry^  wrmgly  classed,  should  be  on  page  122  with  words  in  which  s  is  pronounced  as  zfi !  \',\is  pio- 
nou  led  s  as  ih  in  W^bstf  r's  octavo  dictionary.!  Cm  page  68  fourth  column  sanguine,  wromrly  classed  .should  l)e  on 
page  134  with  wads  n  which  "  the  sound  of  ng  is  close,"  wheie  torigi:ish.  fee.  arc  iiibeiKd  !  S<n  e  [age  fifth 
column  spcndthnft,  .vrongly  classed,  should  be  on  paee  114  with  words  in  whicli  the  sound  of  th  is  noiPd  \  Same 
column  -nerfeit,  Insfted  asain  same  in^'c  .seventh  column  !  Same  paL'e  sevputn  c- ilumn  garden,  inseited  airain  on 
page  73!  On  pii^Co9first  column  gallicism,  inserted  again  on  pa?e  132  vviih  '•  words  ending  in  ism  .'"  On  page  70 
secmd  column  tountersign,  inserted  again  on  page  138  with  wr.rds  in  which  "g  is  silent !"  On  pasre  71  first  column 
begin,  second  column  beget  and  forget,  all  three  wrongly  classe.i.  should  be  on  page  125  with  "  words  in  which  g  has 
its  hard  sound  »e!0i3  c,  i,  and  y .'"  begin  is  inserted  atraiu  on  page  125  where  it  should  he,  but  beget  :^nf\  forget  are 
Tiot  there  insered  •  Same  column  irithin.  wrongly  classed,  should  be  on  page  115  with  "  words  in  wh'ch  th  lia\e 
their  vocal  sound  !"  Same  page  second  column  besat.  inserted  again  on  page  lOO  !  On  page  72  third  coUmin  yrith 
drair,  inserted  again  on  page  S3,  wrongly  classed  in  io?/j  places,  sliould  lie  on  page  1 15  with  "words  in  which  r/i 
have  their  vccil  smnd  !"  Same  jvige  eighth  column  mongrel,  wrnngly  classed,  ii  is  inserted  again  on  pai:e  135  with 
words  in  which  "  tlie  sinnd  of  ng  is  cbse."  where  it  should  be  •  Thiis,  the  scholar  will  pass  more  than  six'y  ))age5 
after  learning  the  07-?/wg'rap.'27/ ~^of  wonsre/before  he  will  know  Us  pronunciation !  On  page  74  second  column 
shoulder,  insertedagain  on  page  83 !  On  page 77  second  column  progrwsiicate.  inserted  agaiii  on  page  ill,  and  is 
diflferently  divided  (prognosiic-.itc-progno.sti-cate  !)  S;ime  column  authenticate,  wrongly  classed,  should  be  on 
page  114  with  woids  in  which  the  sound  of  th  is  noted  !  Same  page  third  column  executive,  %vrongly  classed,  and 
It  is  inserted  agan  on  page  120  where  it  shouJd  be  with  words  in  winch  "  x  pi-.sscs  into  the  sound  of  gz  .'"  T'lais, 
the  scholar  w.'irpjss  more  than  forty  pages  after  leanring  the  ortho^rapfty  of  execntiveheior^  he  will  know  its  pro- 
nunciation, thatis.  thata;  has  the  sound  of  gz  in  It :  On  page  78  third  column  cpake  and  it  isinserted  agaiii  on  page 
15S,  and  dil^^renly  spelled  (opanue !)  On  fiage  79  third  column  dethrone  and  enthrone,  wrongly  classed,  should  lie 
on  page  114  with  wonls  in  which  the  sound  o:  th  is  noted  !  Same  c  'lumn  declare,  insnare,  prepare,  and  compare, 
all  wronglv  (lassed,  and  they  are  all  inserted  again  on  p.  141  where  they  should  lie,  and  ensnare.  difTirently  siiclled  • 
8amcp.,  fo^irthcclumn  breviT.  wrongly  classod,  should  be  on  p.  137  wiihderni'-r.  frontier,  &c.'.  On  p.  i'l,  bragga- 
docio and  i)Uer%uncio  wrongly  classed,  .^^hould  be  on  p.  127.  with  "  words  in  which" f«,  ci.  ti,  ;ind  si,  are  pronounced 
assh".'  Si.une.'K^^ci.'ni  ro\t\w.n,metapl:usics.  insencd  again  on  p.  iso!  Same  column  ?7wr/?ewa^/c«.  again  on  n. 
130,  wrongly  cussed  in  both  places,  should  be  on  p.  m,  with  words  In  which  tlie  .sound  of  this  noted,  where  math.- 
ematical  \i  inserted!  Sirne  column  p/cea^/s/e/r/ and  cow-m/wj^.  both  wrongly  classed,  should  lie  on  p.  120,  with 
words  in  whicl  "  x  passes  into  the  sound  of  rz,"  where  exist  is  in.serfed  !  Th"e  scliolar  can  n',t  learn  the  pronun- 
ciation cf  tlies<  words  until  he  shall  arrive  at  p.  120  !  Same  column,  overshadmr.  wrongly  classed,  should  be  (  n  p. 
86,  where  I'^odow  is: Inserted  !  S;ime  column  r^gJw/''«/a/,  wrongly  classed,  should  be  on  p.  125.  with  wools  m 
which  "g'enungrt  sydanlo.  has  the  sound  of;,"  wlifie  regiment  is  inserted!  On  p.  83,  sixth  cdinnn  7/-77/i<T/^, 
wr.ngU' classed."  sh  uld  be  on  p.  115.  wliere  the  souiiil  of/Zz  is  note  I  !  On  p.  84.  thinl  column,  thrill  is  inseted 
twice  in  rhe  ^ame  cohimn!  Same  c  >lumn  //lowg-;?/.  insertetl  auain  on  p.  ce;  Same  column,  r/nwg. //)/ng- and 
WiOTir.  and  ^/li'ig  and //j'^rtg  are  iiisertcd  again  on  |>  I'U  !  On  p.  86,  thint  rolumn  thnrsday  and  pc'hu-uu.  horh 
wronglv  clashed,  should  l-;e  on  jr  114.  where  the  souml  oi  th  is  noted  :  thurs,'07/  is  inserted  again  <  n  p.  1I4.  but 
pa'hicdy  is  lur  !  On  p.  87,  first  column  rasure  ami  seizure,  wrongly  classeil.  shouM  Ire  on  i>  122,  whoro  the  s  and 
z  have  the  snind  ffzh.as  grazier,  fusion,  fiic. !  Smie  column  ancient,  wrongly  clas-ed.it  is  inserted  again  on  p. 
127,  where  ir  </t(;"''.i  he  vith  -'w  iri!s"in  which  cc.  ci,  ti.nni  v/,  .are  pronounced,  as'*'?".'  Thus,  thr-sclio'ar.  after  !<=-arn- 
Ing  \i\e  orfhogiuphi/ of  an-i'-nt.  must  p.iss  rb/7j/ page  of  the liooV  Iwlore  he  will  know  its  proininriaiion  •  Same 
u  'seronil  ro  umn  rdrrfil.  wronglv  class'd.  should  lie  on  p.  141.  whore  rare,  declare,  &c.  aro  insened  !  Same  col- 
umn faUh'nl  and  irnthfuK  mid  third  co  unin  thraUdou),  \C\  three  wrongly  rlaswd.  should  be  on  p.  114.  whoro  the 
sound  of  r/i  is  m'cd  !  On  pa-^f^  ><^.  firs'  co'umti  £>/'««« /y.  rwasure,  anrl  trensure,  all  wronglv  cl.issed,  .should  I»p  on 
p  122  with  woi(l<  in  which  s  has  \\\c  sonnil  of  zh.  as  hosier,  ftr  !  Same  ro'ninn  censure,  pressure,  uwiji'^urr,  aU 
wronglv  rJ-issel.  <l,ould  be  on  p.  12',  whe-e  c.  t.  and  «.  h.up  the  sound  of  v7»  .'  |S  has  the  sound  of  sh  in  all  these 
wo'ds  in  \S>h-if*r'.s  octavo  iliciionary.  au'l  in  ccnsurennl  Jitture  in  tlro  quarto,  but  7ione  of  thorn  are  so  proni  un- 
ccd  in  tho  duodecimo. ']  Pleasure,  inea\ure.  ami  treasure,  are  inseted  again  on  p.  137,  with  wonls  in  which  "(hS 
vowel «  of  the  Pigraph  ea.  iias  no  sound,  and  e  is  sliort,  but  it  is  not.  there  stated  that  s  h.as  the  sound  of  zh! 
On  page  .«9.  fust  column,  -i;iinJi::arU,  iiiserted  again  on  jiage  us!  On  page  90,  first  column,  integrity 
inserted  again  on  page  ir9  !  On  page  92.  first  column  inutsrinary  and  unneces-^ai-y.  both  wrongly  classal.  should 
.<  o  p.  126.  with  words  in  which  "  c  acx;ented  or  ending  a  syllable,  has  the  sound  of  »,  and  g-that  of  j,"  as  tinagi.. 
nation,  Ac.  on  that  page!  Same  column  confectionary,  wrongly  classed,  should  be  on  p.  126,  with  "words  in 
which  ce,  ci,  ti,  and  */,  are  pronouncesi  as  sh"!  On  p.  93,  illcgilntity  dndflagelet.  wrongly  classed,  should  be  on  p, 
125  with  words  in  which  "  g-.  ending  a  syU-Me,  has  tlie  sound  of;,"  as  legif>le,  fragile,  &c.  on  thai  p.ige  t    On  p. 


COMPILED  BY  AARON  ELY.  41 

Vt,  second  c«lurau  insular,  and  it  is  inserted  a^rain  on  i)ie  sarttf.  p.  next  column  !    On  p.  95,  superfluity  orciiiy  tteie* 
In  the  *a»w  column  !    Same  p.  second  column  socmW/i/y,  wroni,']y  clas.sed,  should  be  on  p.  m,  with  •' words  in 
which  cc,  ci,  ti,  and  si,  are  pronounced  as  sh,"  where  social,  &c,  are  inserted  !    tiimc  ailainn  sin^'uliirUy,  wroncly 
classed,  should  be  on  p.  134,  with  words  in  which  •'  the  sound  oi  ns  is  close"!     On  pa^e  lou,  tir>t  Cjlunm  misgive 
axii-fcyrgive,  both  wrongly  classed,  siiould  be  on  p.  1^4,  with  ■'  words  in  which  g  h.is  its  liara  sound  before  e,  i,  and 
y,"  where  give  is  inserted  i    Same  p.  fourtli  column  adopt  is  inserted  twice  in  the  name  column  i     Same  column 
among  and  belong,  both  wron^jly  cUiSsed,  should  be  on  p.  i:;i,  with  words  in  which  ng  have  "  tlio  open  souml  oi 
ng;"  aniongis  inserted  again  on  p.  134,  where  it  ahauUlhe.  hut  belong  Is  not,  allhousrli  long  is  on  that  p.  (134!) 
On  p.  103,  second  column  passionate,  wrongly  classed,  should  be  on  p.  126,  with  "  words  in  which  ce,cl,  ti  und  si, 
are  pronounced  as  sh,"  or  it  should  be  on  p.  108,  vrheK  passion  is  inserted  !     On  page  104,  fiitli  column  atw^gers, 
wrongly  classed,  it  is  inserted  a^rain  on  p.  125.  where  it  sliould  be,  with  '•  words  in  which  g  h:u  W,  hard  .>ound  Ijewre 
e,  i,  an«l  y  "  .'  Same  p.  seventh  column  zealous  and  jeal  n't,  v.-roiigly  classed,  t!M?y  are  ho;b  inserted  .-rjain  on  p  137, 
where  they  should  be,  with  words  in  which  "  the  vowcl  a  of  the  digraph  ea,  has  no  sound,  and  e  is  short  " !    On  p. 
10.3,  third  column  m^-or,  wrongly  classed,  it  is  inserted  again  on  p.  134,  where  it  should  be,  wi:h  words  in  which 
"  the  sound  of  ng  is  close"  !    Same  p.  fourth  column  zealot,  wrongly  classed,  it  is  inserted  again  on  p.  137,  where 
iiahouldbiH    On  p.  106,  first  column  /i«?M«n'67j,  wrongly  c!a.s.sed,  should  be  on  p.  123.  with  "  v.'0;J  s  in  which  o 
before  h  has  the  sound  of  k".'  On  p.  107  third  column  hawthorn,  and  liltli  column  something,  both  w;  ongly  clas.sed, 
shouirbeonp.  IH,  where  the  sound  of  f/i  is  noted!    £.unep.  seventh  column,  headlong  wron-^ly  c'.assel.  .?houM  be 
on  p.  137,  where  head  is  inserted  !    On  p.  103.  first  column  healache,  tootliache,  and  hearta:hc,  all  wrongly  classed, 
should  be  on  p.  123,  with  "  words  in  which  c  before  7i  isas  the  sound  ofofk,"  where  ache  is  inserted :  Sime  column 
■pre^nan:,  wrongly  classed,  inserted  asain  on  p.  138,  wiiere  it  should  Iw  !     Same  p.  &-;cond  colunm  plccmnt  and 
peasa7U,  wrongly  classed,  inserted  aeain  on  p.  137,  where  they  should  be,  with  words  in  v.'hich  "  i'ih-  vowel  a  of  the 
digraph  ea  has  no  sound,  and  e  is  short" !  Same  p.  third  column  dnyspring  wrongly  cl.isjed,  should  bc;  on  p.ipc  134, 
where  spring  is  inserted  !    On  p.  109.  first  column  theocracy,  philanthropy,  and  inisanthropy,  all  wroiiL'ly  clas-eit, 
inserted  a^jain  on  p.  1 1 1,  where  they  should  be,  where  the  sound  of  th  is  noted !  but  philarUhropy  is  di:il:r;;:itly  di vi. 
dedonp.  Il4,thusphi-lanthropy  (109)  phil-anth ropy  (111!)  On  p.  no  firstcolunmrrot/jVfowaZ.  wrongly  c;a.s^^.'d.  should 
be  on  p.  127,  with  "  words  in  which  cf  and  ri  are  pronounced  as  »/z,  aiid  are  united  to  the  pveccdiug  .syllable," 
where  addition,  &c.  are  inserted  !  Saiae  column  intentional,  wrongly  classed,  should  be  on  p.  127,  v.dth  "  words  in 
which  ce,  ci,  ti  and  si,  are  pronounc<;d  iis  alt'  !    S;ime  p.  second  coliunn  exordium,  wrongly  cliisseil,  it  Is  inscr(c<I 
again  on  p.  120,  where  it  should  be  with  words  In  which  '•  x  passes  into  the  sound  of  gz'!    Thus,  tlic  scholar,  afi^r 
learning  the  orthography  oi exordiatn  will  pass  rc/i  pages  belore  he  will  know  its  proiuinciation,  viz.  t".;„:;:has  the 
sound  of  ^  in  It!    On  p.  lU,  first  column  triangular,  wrongly  classed,  should  be  on  j).  IDJ  v/her-j   angular  is 
inserted  with  words  In  which  "  the  souml  of  ng  is  close"!    Same  p.  second  column  epUomue,  ajjostatize,  and  iju- 
viortalize,  all  wrongly  classed,  should  be  on  p.  133,  with  "  v.-ords  ending  in  fee".'   Same  p.  third  colunm  occaionul, 
wrongly  classed,  should  be  on  p.  122,  where  cxasion  is  inserted  willi  words  in  which  s  has  tiie  sound  of  zh  !  Here 
on  p.  Ill  tlie  .scholar  ca!i  not  learn  hov,-  lo  ^zonownce  occasional  until  he  shall  arrive  at  p.  122,  where  the  jir  .iiun- 
ciation  of  tlie  primitive  word  occasion  is  given  I      Same  column //■/•«rionai  and  yro/Jorrio/wZ  wronidy  cias.,-!, 
should  be  on  p.  127,  where  "cc.  ci,fi  and  si,  are  monounccd  as  sh"!    Same  p.  fourtli  ccTiumn  exhilarate,  v/.o;!-i/ 
classed,  should  be  on  p.  I20,  with  words  in  which  "  x  passes  into  the  .sound  oi  gz"!    Thus.  th'>  schnlar  can  no:  kani 
tlie  pronunciation  of  this  v/ord  any  where  in  the  book  f    Same  column  originate,  wior.gly  classed,  inserted  again 
on  p.  126,  where  it  should  be,  but  differently  divided,  thus,  origi-nate  (ill)  origm-ate  {12G !)     S;imc  p.  fifth  column 
cxaiperate,  wrongly  clas.sed,  inserted  again  <i'-'^  P-  120,  where  it  should  be,  hni  diffcrciuiy  divided,  tlius  exasprr-rte 
(111,)  exaspe-rate  (120')    On  p  112  first  coiumn  companionate,  dispassionate,  and  a_g^r.ctio7ia:c,  all  wrongly  cU-  r.\, 
should  be  on  p.  127  where  "  ce  ci  ti  and  si.  are  pronounced  as  sh"?    Simo  p.  third  column  leviathan,  wionir:..  . ; .  - 
sed,  in.scrtedagiun  onp  114  where  it  */^omW  be,  with  the  sound  of  th  noted!  Same  p.  fourth  culuinn  uxor  ion-.  Tii.-i 
column  luxurious  wrongly 'clrvsscd,  should  be  on  p.  120,  witli  v.ords  in  which  -a:  pai?ses  into  the  sound  of    ;■   d,s 
the  X  is  followed  bV  an  accented  syllable  beginniiiH  with  a  vowel,  as  in  exordimn,  exubcrun!,  &.c..  jj.  120 !     on  p. 
114  first  column  thistle,  inserted  again  on  p.  143,  with  words  in  which  t  is  silent !    Thus,  the  scholar  will  not  kno^^? 
that  t  before  le  is  sileir,  in  thistle  when  he  learns  its  orihogrnphy  on  p.  1 14  !    Same  column  next  word  throstle,  l  is 
alsosilent,  but  throstle  is  not  inserled  auuin  on  p.  143,  so  that  the  .scholar  will  never  learn  in  the  Spclling-Boolv  that 
t  is  silent  in  throstle  !    Same  column  throttle,  inserted  again  on  p.  143 !    Same  column  authorize,  in.-crted  asain  on 
p.  132,  with  "  words  ending  in  izc"!    Sums  column  thininle,  inserted  again  on  p.  142!    Same  ji.  .secoiv!  cJuum  cath- 
olic and   plethoric,  inserted  again  on  p.  131 1     Same  column  authentic  ■AwApathttic,  third  column  athletic  and  ca- 
thartic,A\\  inserted  again  on  p.  129!     Same  column  athehtic  and  rrUitnietic,  insened  airain  on  p.  uo,  an.l  hi.th  .lif- 
fsrently  diviiJed  !    Same  column  ?;ic;^jodJCci,  again  on  p.  131 1      Same  column  po?J/f/jei*)/j,  airain  on  p.  132  !    .Same 
oViumn  ichthyology,  again  on  p.  124 !    On  p.  115,  first  column  clothier,  inserted  again  on  p.  121 !    (AH  this  rci.ni:ion 
of  words  in  the  different  lessons  might  have  l>een  avoided,  haA  the  sy.stem  of  cla^.iitication  bec-n  con£:istc-jit  and 
Judicious.   Thus,  the  word  clothier,  &c.  in  which  there  arc  two  consonant  sounds  to  be  noted,  the  wonls  should  have 
been  in  the  class  of  "Word.>  of  irregular  orthography,"  on  p.  154,  whure  both  j)eculiar  sounds  could  have  bcpii  no- 
ted by  spelling  the  pronunciation  of  the  words,  as  he  has  done  on  that  page.]    Same  column  vii'.Jier  and  ipluther 
in.scrted  again  on  p.  ill  !    Same  column  leather  and  feather,  again  on  p.  137!     Same  j).  .-si  l'jiuI  co:u;i;:i  burthen, 
ag.iin  on  p.  13S,  with  "  words  in  which  e,  I,  and  0  before  n  are  mule,"  although  the  e  is  iialic'.c  on  p.  ii5,  denoting 
that  it  is  "  mute"!     Same  p.  third  column  rc^cf/i<!r,  again  on  p.  125!    Same  p.  fifth  column  distlnguir.h,  ^i%\\\  coi- 
uran extinguish,  wrongly  classed,  should  be  on  p.  i:w  \irith  words  In  which''  ih.-  - oiin  !  '.f  P7\~  c'.  ..-4.."  whero  .'nra- 
fi-HwA,  &c.  are  inserted :    On  p.  118,  fifth  column  cfta^sm,  wrongly  classed,  it  ;  ;.  123.  v  here  it 

should  be,  with  "  words  in  which  c  before /t  has  the  sound  of  fc".'    Onp.  119  i  i.isenid  acain 

on  p.  140!    Siime  p.  third  column  whiffle  and  fourth  column  whistle,  anil  :  >lii  on  p.  M3I 

Sanie   p.  sixth  cfllumn   tchoopiyigcough,  wionsXy  c\M-KiiA,  it  should  ;30/ he  :;  ■  i.s  no  ynn  the 

word  in  any  of  Mr.  V/ebstcr'sI)ic'.ionaric.-,  or  in  the  dictionaries  of  Johnson  or  ^.'  ricr  :    on  p.  i,u  stmud  rulumn 
exoitgerate,  inserted  aaain  on  p.  126.  and  is  d'ffereuthj  divided,  thils,  ctagge-ratc  (I20)  exugger-ate  (I23  !)  Same  p, 
third  column,  exotic,  again  on  p.  131.  On  p.  121  first  column  christian,  acrain  on  u.  123  !  samf"  p.  third  co'.omn  ex- 
futustUni  Awd  exuatlon.    What  sound  has  x  in  these  word.; '.'  Mr.  Ely  has  told  us  ni  his  "  Aiudysi.'^  of  .-otmds  in  the 
English  Lanzuagc,"  that  x  is  sometimes  pronounced  as  gz."  but  why  it  is  so  pronounced  he  has  not  informed  us  ! 
whc'her  because  it  is  lollowed  by  an  accented  syllable  b.'iginningwith  a  vowel  or  nor.    On  pai.'e  li.'S  third   co'juan 
aeragllo,  it  is  inserted  again  on  \k  15o.  and  is  differently  divided  !  tlius.  seragl-in  (lO^.i  .'^■-ra:-  '':  1 1''  n    On  il  123 
first  column  ac^,  inserted  asain  on  p.  154!    Sfinie  p.  second  column  t/iwic,  wrongly  c       ^  '  ....        .. -^ 

lesson,  for  there  is  no  /i  in  the  v/crd  in  any  of  Webster's  diciionaric.-!,  or  in  i!.e  ■:■  •  ■ 

Walker!     Sime  coluirm  scirro7ts,  in.serted  with  "words  in  which  c  bo  lore  A  h:;.;  ;.  s 

no  h  in  the  word  !    Same  p.  si.vth  column  chirnicaJ,  Inserted  acain  on  p.  131  1    Or.  1  i      ;   •  ;. 

fie,  again  on  p.  129  !    Same  column  c/ioofic,  acain  on  p.  131  1    Same  p.  sec  sid  ri.':'!i  1 
Same  p.  seventh  column  gigg!e.  again  on  p.  112  !     On  p.  I25,first  rolunm  ;  .  : 

p.  «c.r^  column  !   [In  the  first  edition  of  this  hook,  published  in  New  Yor■■^-.  •■■'"'■'  '  .1 

not  c..ime  Ijefore  c  or  i  ,•  hut  th.e  blunder  was  pointed  out  by  awriter  in  t:  •• "  '  •• 

1829,  and  sluggard  has  been  struck  out,  and  icagglsh  inserted  in  r.  ■  ' 

Same  p.  third  column  goggle,  wrongly  clxssod,  for  g  does  rwt  come  "1  i 

again  on  p.  112!     Same  p.  fourth  column  girdle.,  again  on  p.  142  i     s.  u 

onp.129!    On  p.  126  first  colunm  I'uiTZC.  ajain  on  p.  138!    S;ime  p  th  :  1         .;:.■  r.i.;c  .^ro,-,  a-   lu  ui  p.  Ijj  :    un 
i^es97, 126, 127,  and  128,  are  words  in  which  c,  s  and  t.  nave  the  s^uii:!  ui  v"; 

In  these  lessons  the  terminations  aton,  tion,  cial,  sial,  cinn.  i ;'!''••,  tioit.r,  date  and  tiate  are  Infer' 
mingled  in  such  a  manner  that  iho  scholar  am  not  deterniiM'.  ^- ■  ■  m  n-.iuiir  I  io:;-;i  ;  i.v  w,  ;,l  (•■.n- 
tained  in  the.sc   lessons,  whether  to  u.>e  c,  r,  or  s.  Uie  sound  tieiu"  '  /, 

anaciate,  ingratiate,  &.c.;  and  it  is  evident  that  the  words  in  v.iur:. 
classed  in  separate  les.sons  for  the  same  reasons  that  he  ha>  cln.-sed  ii.  i 

V;  a.s  we  learn  their  pron!/racMra/7«  by  a.s80ci.ation,  so  should  wr  ir'arii     ...   ...d 

to.    On  page  123  fifth  column  Tioxiowi  inserted  with  "  v.ords  in  which  r,-,  ci,  it  and  '  t  .1.-  /*;,.■  \\],vii 

there  i.s  no  ce,  ci,  ti,  or  ai  in  the  word !  On  page  127  fourth  .X)lumn  deiioua,  and  ir  n  i.n   il.o  sctnu 

p.  sixth  column!  Same  column  "ffir.ious,  fifth  colunwi/ratrion,  and  they  are  l','h  l!  i~  '  "'ii  1.  ige 

129  arithmetician,  ethic,  and  ethnic  are  ;o  classed  that  the  scholar  will  not  ■  .^ 

they  are  not  on  p.  114  or  115  where  the  different  sounds  of /A.  are  not?  1 !  On  i-   .  m 

15.5  !  Same  p.  fifth  column  alchimic.  wrongly  classed,  should  have  been  on  r  ■  • 

haj  the  iOunJofA;".'  "Inthlsi  clas,^lfication  of  the  woris  cndi.-si?  in  f'  Mr  '   .  .    1  ; 


43  m'>i>ters  ELEMEKTARY  SPELLirsa-BOOK, 

thus  he  has  catholic,  athletic,  on  p.  1 14,  mechanic  o\\  p.  124,  inserted  where  the  sounds  of  th  and  ch  are  ncted,  atw 
rrociifel  here  •  but  he  hp^s  syrJhaic.  p.  114,  chronic,  p.  \^i.  ice.  not  repeated  iicre  in  words  eridinpr  in  ic ;  and,  acain 
>ic  has  'auhimic,  p.  li3,  ottlngiaphic.  \\.  130,  cholaic,  p.  131,  which  are  not  on  pages  114,  115.  or  \'j.\i,  or  124,  where 
the  EOiiufis  of  th  and  c/i  are  noted  ! !]  Same  colmr.a  ecstatic,  inserted  Ji^ain  on  p.  131,  and  cl/ffcrentl:/  speded  •  sam« 
p.  seventh  column  pnei'.matic,  asaln  on  p.  155  !  Same  column  rhetoric,  again  on  p.  155  diflorently  li/crcffrf  and  ac 
cented,  thus,  rhe-tor-ic  (129),  rhet^o-ric.  (155) ! !  On  pa<ie  130  alchimistic.  analogic,  casuistic,  catcchetic,  chronologic 
eucharisfic,  geologic,  hypothetic,  7ii.ythologic,'nidt}iematic,  orihographic,  'pantnti8ttc,parenthttic,  pathclogic.  T'ft^H 
ologic,  philanthropic,  pyrotechnic,  syrnpatfietic,  theologic,  theocratic,  theoretic,  zoclogic  p.  ISI,  chcrcctnistic.  en 
thusiasiic,  entmnologic,  ^sruaJ-ogic,  ornitiiologic,  osteologic,  physiologic,  ichthyologic,  gothic,  chimerical,  illogical 
tcihirnsical,  bismuthic,  choleric,  theoric  p.  132,  gcthicism,  provincialism,  Catholicism,  vimotheism,  hulotheixm, 
rationalism,  scholasticism  p.  133,  nne.thoiize,  theorize,  a^iathcnuitize.  bcstlaUze,  catholicize,  characterize,  ethercalize, 
nationalize,  cheverili~e,  have  been  inserted  on  these  pajes  without  any  rule  having  been  jriven,  by  Mr.  Eiy.  lor  the 
pronunciation  of  ch,  th,g,  ich,  and  s.  which  occur  in  them  !  Tlius,  the  scholar  who  consults  the  spellinjc-book  onty, 
will  for  ever  remain  unacquainted  with  their  pronunciation  !  wldle  arithiiutic,  atheistic,  chaotic,  exotic,  polythe 
■ism,  authorize,  &€.  which  occur  on  the  saine  pases  have  been  inserted  on  pa<jes  114.  124,  120,  <!tc.  where  the  s(  unds 
Gf  th,  ch,  X,  &c.  are  noted !  Hence  Jlr.  Ely  has  every  species  of  iJieonsi^itncy  imaginable,  in  th"b  classilication  of 
the  words  on  pages  130,  isi,  132,  and  133! 

On  paje  132  fifth  column  anglicism,  inserted  again  on  p.  131  with  words  in  which  "  the  sound  of  ng  is  close"  I 
On  page  133  third  column  exorcise,  is  mserted  with  "  words  ending  in  ize,"  l;ut  exorcise  has  not  any  2  ur  it  in  any 
ef  Mr.  Webster's  dictionaries,  or  in  the  dictionaries  of  Johnson,  Walker,  &c. !  On  p.  137  st-cond  column  hucaneer, 
with  words  in  which  "  ch  has  the  sound  oish,  and  ihas  the  sound  of  e  long,"  but  bucancer  has  no  ch  or  i  in  it!  and 
should  he  on  p.  61,  with  gazetteer,  volunteer,  &c.  Same  p.  fourth  column  breadth,  breath,  earth,  dearth,  threat,  lifth 
column  health,  wealth,  stealth,  .sixth  column  heulihy,  tvealthy,  feather,  leather,  leathern,  seventh  column  threaten 
with  words  in  which  "  the  vowel  a  of  the  digraph  ca,  has  no  sound,  and  e  is  short."  Only  tico  of  these  words 
(feather  and  leather)  are  inserted  on  paires  114,"or  115  where  the  diflf-vent  souii.ls  oHh  are  noted,  (all  the  others  are 
here  inserted  on  p.  137  without  the  sound  of  th  being  noted,  so  that  their  pronuncitilion  can  not  be  learned  in  any 
lesson  contained  m  the  spcUinii  bo,*.)  Same  p.  sixth  column  heaven  and  leaven,  seventh  column  threaten,  insersd 
srr-iin  on  p.  139  !  On  page  139,  earthen,  given,  strcn^Tthcn,  lengthen,  thicken  p.  140,  wreathen,  wheaten,  forgiven, 
chri&ten,  p.  142,  t'-heedle,p.  144,  sociable,  tiilml'le,  ha\e  been  inserted  without  any  rule  for  the  pronunciation  of  th, 
%oh,  g.  ch,  c,  which  occur  in  them!  while  irhitcn. synecdoche  p.  140,  thimble,  giggle  p.  142,  wkifjle,  vhittle.  thistle., 
whistle  p.  143,  ftawbeen  inserted  on  pages  119, 121, 114,  where  the  sounds  of  th,  tvh.  g,  ch,  &c.  are  noted  !  Th.c  pre- 
ceding clas.sification  is  a  great  inconsistency,  entirely  void  of  uniformity  !  On  p.  141  sixtli  column  hazle  is  inserieil 
with  "  words  in  which  e  final  after  I  is  mute  ;"  l)ut  e  is  not  final  in  hazel  in  any  of  Mr.  Webster's  dictionaries,  or 
Jn  the  dictionaries  of  Johnson  or  AValkcr !  The  word  is,  therefore,  wronglv  classed. 

C)n  the  last  part  of  page  144,  and  the  first  part  of  page  145,  Mr.  Elv  has  given  a  class  of  "  words  nearly,  but  not 
exactly  alike  in  pronunciation."  Of  these  he  has  givoh  eighty-seven;  and^  he  miirht  with  as  much  propriety,  liave 
given  Jive  hundred  other  words  in  the  language,  as  ihcsc  eLrhty-seveji ;  for  the  pronunciation  of  these  is  no  more 
'^'  nearlv,  but  not  exactly  alike,"  than  hiindrect-i  of  others  in  the  lansruase  !  that  is,  acrceably  to  the  pronunciation  of 
Mr.  Wc'jsters  dictionary.  Although  Mr.  Ely  has  stated  that  these'  "words"  are  "  nearly"  alike  in  pronunciation, 
yet  he  has  not  given  the  pronunciation  of  any  of  thom  w  this  lesson  ;  and  he  has  not,  in  anv  of  the  prcceiling 
spelling  lessons,  given  more  \.\vai\  forty-nine  of  these  wo-us  •,  an<i.  conseouently  the  scholar  will  never  know  from 
the  use  of  this  spelling-book,  how  to  pronounce  these;/jMt?/«>;i/' wnris*  which  Mr.  Ely  savs  are  "  nearly,  but  not 
exactly  alike  in  pronunciation,"  not  knowing  xcliat  tbut '■pro?imic?atzon"  is  !  as,  are,  accept,  except,  accede,  ex- 
ceed, acre,  allusion,  acts,  ax,  ally,  allowed,errand,  errant,ballad.  ballot,  clcnlie*,  rio.^^e,  consort.dost,  inmrcrge.emfrge, 
gesture,  jester,  idol,  impostor,  imposture,  naughty,  inireniouj,  pii»t.  raddish.voddish  sJake  since,  sense,  tenure, 
talents,  talons,  and  value,  ate  not  pronounced  in  any  spelling  lesson  of  the  hook;  bm.  air  p.  45.aiTect,  effect  p  71, 
achor  123, access,  excess  p.  75,  illusion,  elusion  p.  122,  alley  p.34,  assay  p.2S,  essay  p.8S,al^B«ion,  effu.sion  p.  122.  alo-id 
p.  72,  arrant  p.l08,  addition,  edition  p.  127,  ballot  p.34,  creak  p.39,  creek  p.29,  conccn  p.85,  descent,  dissent  p.71,dfc<.ase 
p.  78,  disease  p.  83,  dust  p.  24,  elicit,  illicit  p.  126,  earn  p.  137,  urn  p.  23,  fat,  vat  p.  21.  harsh  p.  27,  hash  p.  117,  idle  p. 
143,  knotty  p.  136,  iuirenuous  p.  89,  morse  p.  36,  moss  p.  32.  line  p.  22,  loin  i).  37.  loom  p.  3n.  loam  p.  40,  meihd  p.  50, 
meddle  i).  142,  point  p.  37,  slack  p.  31,  tenor  p.  43,  valley  jt.  34,  are  pronounced  on  the  preceding  paires  1  tjomc  of 
these  words  here  given  as  being  "nearly"  alike  in  pronunciation,  are  very  dLstinctly  iUfferent ;  as  air  (<!  Idnir.)  are 
(a  flat )  as  distinctly  different  sounds  as  any  two  in  the  language  I  Arei^iiwi  proncuncrd  \n  the  Siicllin^Eook. 
neither  is  the  word  to  be  found  in  AVebster's  scl)^90l  dictionary,  but  in  his  ciuarto  he  says  "it  is  usutdly  iironnunccd 
cr"  (a  flat.)  and  in  liis  octavo  he  does  pronounce  ilflj-  (aP.at !)  alley  antl  ally  are  differently  accente<l  •  derf.a^f  and 
disease ;  e  long  in  the  first  syllable,  a)id  s  sharp  in  decease,  but,i  short  in  the  first  syllable,  and  s  'ike  z  in  botii  syl- 
lables In  disease,  not  very  "  neai'ly  alike"  in  pronunciation  !  dost  and  du-at :  dost  is  not  pronounced  in  the  .Spelling- 
Book,  or  in  Webster's  quarto  dictionarv,  and  the  word  is  not  to  be  found,  in  Webster's  school  dictinnan'.  which  is,  lif 
course,  to  be  used  with  the  Spelling-Book  :  but  in  Webster's  octavo  dictionary,  it  is  pronr.unced  witli  0  like  v  short, 
so  that  these  two  words  p.  145,  dost  and  dust  are  not  "nearly"  but. " exactly"  ?^\\kc,  if  Mr.AVebsier's  octavo  dictionary 
be  the  "STANDARD  !  !"  pint  (i  long)  point  (0/ diphthong,)  these  are  not  very  "  nearly  alike  in  pronunciation  !" 
&c.  &c.  &c. 

On  paire  145,  Mr.  Ely  has  given  a  class  of  "words  of  the  same  oithographv,  but  differently  prrnounred  !" 
Of  this  class  of  words,  there  arc  in  the  language,  uicknowledged  by  Mir.  Webster  in  his  dictionaries,)  ahoui  one 
hundred  andsixteen,  that  is,  differently  accc/ii^J and  pronounced,  when  differently  ajiplied.  Of  tliesc,  Mr:  Ely  has 
classed  but  twenty-one,  in  this  lesson  p.  145  !  We  might  reasonulTy  suppose  that  Mr.  Ely  would  insert  alt  of  these 
words,  subject  to  different  pronunciation  or  accentuation  when  ^litterenily  api)lied,  if  any,  in  a  lesson  of  this  kiirl 

E.  145;  for,  the  scholar  would,  mo.st  unquestion.ably,  C'-clude.  when  looking  at  the  title  of  this  ieston,  that  Mr.  Ely 
as  classed  all  of  them  ;  and,  with  this  conclusion,  would  for  ever  renwin  isnunuitof  the  fact,  from  the  use  of  this 
lesson,  that  there  are  in  the  l;uigu;u:c.  NLN'ET  V  -FIVE  mher  "  words  of  the  name  orthography,  but  dijterem'.y  p?o- 
not/ncfd  'or  accented,  similar  to  the  TWENTY-ONE  Avhich  he  has  classed  !  Again,  Mi-.  Ely  has,  In  the  preceding 
lessons,  intermingled  NINE  of  these  ninety-Jive  words  witii  their  ditterent  accentuation  or  pronunciation  noted  ; 
as,  concert  pages  85  and  144,  contest  pn.  35  and  76,  contract  p|).  6Hand  tx.  ferment  pp.  71  and  105,  object  and  subject 
pp.  64  and  71,  rebel  pp.  44  and  100,  refuse  pp.  S3  and  8S,  sotv  pp.  45,  55,  ;md  149,  which  are  not  here  classed  on  p.  145 ! 
and  the  SIXTY -ONE  following  words  are  inserted  with  only  one  accentuation  or  iirominciation  noted,  neither  can 
we  learn  from  his  spelling-book  that  they  ever  should  be  differently  accented  or  pronounced  !  as,co:icrcte,  convoy  p. 
ftS,  house,  mouse  p.  36,  use  p.  37,  close  pp.  37  and  144,  rise  pf)  37  and  It9,  gout  p.  ?8,gre;ise  p.  39,  attribtttc  n.  49. 
minute  p.  50,  frequent  p.  53,  overflow,  overthrow  p.  ei,  abject,  instinct,  progress  p.  64,  descant  p.  63.  counter- 
march p.  70,  prefix,  augment,  abstract,  affix,  extract,  insult,  fraject,  collect,  conduct,  conflict,  project,  conipact  p.  71, 
Impress  p.  75,  digest,  import,  transport,  escort,  comport,  desert,  contrast,  convert,  protest  p.  76,  retail  p.  7S,  supine 
confine,  console  v.  79,  abuse,  excuse,  diffu.-ie  p.  83,  transfer. conserve,  convei.-e  p.  too.  torment  p.  104.  r.i)sent,  {ire.sent, 
convent  p- 105,  accent  p.  108,  exile  p.  120,  precedent  ji.  125,  raven  p.  139.  conf^on  p.  144,  lead  p.  14S,  are  inserted  with 
but  one  acc/^ntuation  or  pronunciation  in  any  of  the  spelling  lessons  of  the  brok  !  Acrain:  there  are  TWENTY- 
FIVE  other  weras  of  this  class,  subject  to  diil'srent  acconiuationor  different  pionunciiition  when  differently  appli- 
ed, of  which  the  scholar  will  for  ever  remain  iL'norant  unless  he  shall  refer  to  some  other  source  than  tbe  Elent-cntOr 
ry  Spelling-Book,  as  they  axenoi  many  of  ihespelline  lessons  with  either  acceiuuation  or  prrnur.ciiitlon  1 1  as,  fore- 
taste, presage,  export,  bombard,  discord,  record,  colleague,  produce,  cc-niei  l.  incense,  undress,  discount,  confcct, 
compress,  complot,  compound,  coumcrminc,  countermand,  niisccndurt,  'iisuse,  put,  &c.  &c.  and  these  words 
•which  Mr.  Ely  has  entirely  omitted  are  as  important  as  those  lie  has  inr.crlcd  !  Several  of  the  preceding  class  of 
words  are  pronounced  or  accented  but  &He  way  in  Mr.  Webster's  d«Of.Vc/mY;  dicti'Miar)',  but  are  /?ro  ways  in  Mr. 
Webster's  octavo  dictionary  !  As  perfume,  ho:nbard.  discord,  colleague,  abject,  cnfrnncc,  rii.<?count,  confect,  instinct, 
mouse,  and  frequent.  The  word  entrance  is  .spelled  with  »,  when  a  verb,  in  i\Ir.  V\'ebster's  quarto,  but  with 
c  in  his  octavo  !  In  his  duodecimo  published  in  1830,  he  spelled  it  with  c.  agreeing  with  the  octavo  :  but  in  the  edi- 
tion published  in  1831,  it  is  spel'ed  entranse  with  s.  ugreehie  with  the  quarto!  Tims  if  we  take  the  octavo  or 
dMOdccf?«o  of  1830,  for  the  standard,  entnuice.  verb  >ma  noun,  should  bo  in  this  les.son,  as  spelled  alike,  differ- 
ently accented ;  but  if  we  Uike  the  quarto  or  duodecimo  or  i831  for  the  standard,  they  should  not  be  in  this  lesson, 
beitjg  spelled  dlfferenlly  !  [Surely  Mr.  Ely  would  have  been  in  a  dilemma  relative  to  the  ortho-Traphy  of  this  word 
had  he  not  wed  "Walker's  Rhyndtig  Dictionary,  London  eaition,im\,"  tohen  classing  these  words.'] 

On  pages  i45, 146, 147,  MS,  149,  and  150,  Mr.  Ely  has  given  a  lesson  of  "Words  pronounced  alike,  but  differ  enl 
in  ortfiography."  This  is  one  of  the  most  important  lessons  contained  in  any  Spelling-Book;  for,  unless  these 
v«)rds  arc  associated  with  their  respective  distinctive  deflniUons,  it  is  impossiblo  forth*  schdar  to  becoir:©  ao- 


COMPILED  BY  AARON  ELY.  43 

(TJalnled  with  their  orOiography,  iheiT  pronunciation  Ijelng  alike.  From  the  title  of  this  lessen,  Rnd  Its  evident 
fmportance  in  a  Spelling-Book,  we  mi^ht  rensonaiiy  uxiitct  tl;at  Mr.  Ely  hwl  inserted  alL  the  couirnon  words  of  this 
c1;isb  in  the  language  ;  tliatl:e  had  nofinseneii  any  of  these  words  in  the  iircoc-Jins  .«pellin^  ICL^ions  where  the  dis- 
tinctive definitions  aroj^or  2iven,  as  it  is  iinpoisitle  lor  the  sciioiar  to  ulstiiii:u:.:h  the  sailing  il  words  which  're 
pio.'iounced  alil<e,  bat  spellud  liircrently,  wiien  they  are  iuterniingied  wiiii  otlier  wcrdi,  aiul  not  iu^icciated  with 
their  di^iinUice.  dethiiiions.  And  we  mightalso eAjcct that  tlieir  iJ.oniiticiati'  n  wuiild  be  givun  in  this  lecs.n :  and 
tJiat  no  wordii  w;  iil.l  lie  lifie  ciaised  which  are /<o^  prjno.uiced  alike  :  yet,  l;iis  le>soii  i.s  c/tjcc/irt  in  all  the  prece- 
Jinsr,  and  in  some  oilier  pariiculais,  as  will  be  fully  bluiwn. 

Kiisi  i-There  aie  •:c!<no\v;edi:ed  l)y  3Ir.  Wehiter,  either  in  his  speUins-book  or  dictionao',  ahout  seven  hundred 
and eightij  woris  of  tliis  cia.s.:> :  yet  .Mr. Ely  li;u  c!a»S( d  m  tliis  les.-on  r nly  Join  hunaiea  and  fornjsix,  of  which 
he  says  two  or  niore  are  sount'.cd  alike,  bnt  few  more  than  half  \n  il;e  )anjiiiji;e. 

Secjiidly  :— There  arc  ticu  huniredand  nini:ty-th)fc  ^i  tlijse /<>«;•  hundi'tiandforty-siz  words,  intermingled  in 
the  precediiiiT  ajid  follojvine  speiiing  les-sons,  where  their  distinctive  deliuiiions  are  nut  L'iven,  which,  as  a  matter 
of  prudencc'sliould  not  be  insened  ticice  to  the  exclusion  ot  other  words  in  conim-in  and  general  use  : 

As  uil  1  iieeW,  ale  iia^e  22,  air  papes  45  and  144,   Iicm- p:ipe  45.  alter  puge  107,  am  page  2»,  ark  i.a§e3l.  a!k:<iit  i.aee  103,  (wliere  it  '\% 

differently  Acciuitd'^   auger  p:..go -'=   '    =' ■"  '• '■■'  '■■'■—••■'   '    .......;..-. v,   >'_-.,„,'. 

page  !)   b.er  page  45,  biii  page  2l, 


auger  p:igo  1^,  bail  page  W,  bai':  pajie  '£i,  Ij^ii  page  M,  b^v,\  page  47,  Irtise  pa^e  22,  l.t-.r  i.-.-^i  !ffl,  {lu-ic;  t 
page  !)  b'er  page  45,  biii  page  2i,  and  again  on  p;ige  32  !  beiry  page  CI,  bury  page  154,  beai  |j:i^c  45,  bf.i  pwge  2"J,  tiltu  p.ige  45,  blue 
gags  'i&,  boar  page  45,  bore  page  22,  bow  pages  35  and  145,  !)uw  page  4-3,  bread  page  lJ7^ired  p;iee  26,  burrov  p..g«  bC,  bay,  bey  par* 
55,  bee  page  2»,  beach  page  39,  boll  page  32,  bowl  page  iO,  bole  page  22,  boil  |.age  23,  bui  page  21,  lir.il.e  i-nje  42,  Uivnk  puge 
40,  cane  (jaje  22,  call  page  32,  caiinnii,  i-anoti  pa^e  56,  ce&sion.  sefcsioii  page  lOS,  •anva>s  pagK  11)4,  seal  page  40,  course, 
coarse  |jage  30,  coat  page  45,  core  page  "ii.  corjjs  pjige  lil,  sell  page  'ii,  century  jiace  ii,  cnolcr  piiee  IZI,  cullar  page  34,  cbonl  pag* 
123,  cilt;,miCkpage  22,  sight  pa?"!  Its,  chronicle  page  123,  complemtnl  page  91,  i,oi.'iplii!iem  page  6*2,  and  again  on  [age  91  I  couuft, 
cozen  page  139,  current  page  105,  deer  page  "^J.  dear  p'age  45,  cask  page  31,  cedar  ptge  25,  and  aeain  on  paae  57  :  tee  1  i-i.ge  2S,  ieut, 
scent  pane  23.  an.i  again  in  this  leesnn  on  p^-.e  149  ! !  ceda.- j.aje  3i,  clime  page  43,  eyni'.ol  pivge  7S,  and  agoTn  Oij  pago  50  !  col«r  pi.ge 
6t,  dan.  page  20,  dew  page  4,5,  lane  page  23,  lain  page  40,  feign  pa^e  155,  dun  page  21,  itraiii  pi.ge26,  eligioii,  cK'siiin  puge  123,  ere  page 
'JH,  ear,  yew.  f;ur,teat  pagj  45,fare  page  141, freeze,  teet  page  29,nea  page  39,!iee  p<-.ge  29.t!oiii-.toiil,!(.vvl  p,-ige  Ss.lWdi,  fourth  page  8l,giU 
page 23,  guiU.  great,  grown  page  45.  grate  page  47,  groan,  had  page  40,  hale  paew  22,  lj;iri  [.ii^'e  21,  liare  p:igs  HI,  hair,  hear,  hew 
page45,lieie  page  22,  liim  page  21,  heel  page  29,  htal  pi.gc  40,  haul  page  >7,  In  :  j  ^^  • -^  ;•:  i  7-  151,  inn.  kill  pr.pe  32,  kuup, 
knave,  knead,  kneel,  know,  knight,  knol  page  136,  need  page  2S,  neal  page  40,  \:k\.  .       :  /  i !  .^  i.oi  i;!ige  CI ,  lade  page  SS, 

laid,  leak  page  39,  l.uii  page  40,  Une  page  Z2,  and  again  on  psige  45  !  leck  pa"<.  V.)  .  ':i.  !  .rl  i.agc-  20,  lye  p.ige  S,  low 

page  15.  lack  i.vt?.- -.(I.  !•"- I.n!:-j29    \i;:>f.T:-t"|.n/c39,  in.Mi  papr    10,  lnrepage-22.  I     .  -.  31 .  locli  li.gc  liy,  main  page 

4CI,  mane,  m  >.' •  <■■•■•■  '■■■■-■■■ 's^-  i...'-  i  !..-.■  3  i.  hi.mI  .;.  !!).  n,^.  ;,(-„•  .,.  ■!:!.  hk-qi  p.  iS.  i..-.  :,.;:,  1....11.  .•:....,  p.  40,  mule  p.  22.  ij.inor  p.  37, 
nijan  ).;.?«•  1'  ■  n  liage  47.  n.ty  i-:ige55,  i>eipage2l.  ouglii  pjige  15G,  •arpaee 

45,  ore  p.i','     .  -•  22,  pad,   pi-in  page  40,  pane  page  22,  palate   page  50,  fallet 

page  6J,  p  >  ^a,  i-are  page  141,  plain  page  40.  pray,  prey  page  55,  i.rup,  et 

page  6.S,  111-:  -,    _  .  ,  ';,  rain  page  40,   reign  p.ige  15.5,   iTp  pi.jc  V4,   1  ►ad  page  39, 

and  agiiii  oa  i  ■jjw-  i  b  I  ..c  :  1  ■•;■  -V,  1 1'  i  ,  ,igi-  Lu,  i- ".:  li-.g.r  v'.i,  jl-1  page  24,  rice  p;xge  22,  ring,  wnn^  jiace  131,  rite  page  22,  licU 
pag- fli,  ro-idp-ge  39,  r-'urpi-e  15,  linger  page  124,  rigor  page  61,ronipage  33,  rough  page  l.?5,  niti  pjgeSS,  row,  rear  page  45 
rabbet  page  61,  sail  page  40,  s.ilc  1  -".ze  22,  sea  page  39,  see  page  29,savor  page  25.  seen  p;ige  29.  senior  page  121,  fcignior  page  155,  shear 
page  4i.  slieer  i  .\2c  29.  ^o.v  p.gv  !  3,  sum,  S'ln  page  21 ,  seme  pa^q  55,  son  page  39,  stare  pasc  141,  stair  i;a?e  45,  steel  page  29.  siccor 
pace  61.  .sliirla  ;j  il;-  IH  j  it-  p.ije  2J,  so,d  page  10.  sloy  page  07,  slow  page  4-5.  stake  page  42,  steak  page  40,  5li!e  page  43.  tax  page  MI 
throw,  thr  .•'  \:.-i-  *!.  :  .m  '.wire  ci  page  45  !  t.ire  page  141,  tier  page  4.7.  team  p:ige  40,  teem  page  29,  litic  page  '£i,  -Jitir,  there,  the' 
the?  t-a;'.'  1 1  ■*.  t«  ri  li.'.jc  Si),  vailjjage  40.  vice  page  22,  wait,  weignt.  waist  page  45,  wear  page  4-i,  and  again  on  page  141  !  w.-u-e  pags 
141.  w.isie  pace  liv  way  p.i-je  00,  week  page  29.  weak  page  40,  wood  uiLgeSO,  would  page  151,  wetherpnge  115,  been,  beau.  cue.  (lolw 
dough,  neit-ii,  sleigh,  weigh,  boueli  page  154— TWO  HirNDHED  AND  MNETY-'fHKEE  \V0RDS— all  of  which  &ie  interv.inglU. 
iu  the  lc»-<ju.<  wiUi  other  words  wnere  their  Uuti.ictive  definitions  tue  not  given,  and  are  again  inserted  on  these  pages,  145,  146, 147,  I4g 
149,  and  150!  ' 

Thirdly  :— Tliere  are  in  the  preceding  spelling  les.sons,  where  their  distinctive  definitions  are  net  given,  Jifty-six 
words,  tv.oof  whidi  are  pronouiiced  alike,  bnt  which  Mr.  Ely  has  net  classed  in  this  lesson,  neither  can  the  scholar 
learn  their  distinctive  tletiniiions  in  any  of  the  spelling  lessons  of  the  bcok ;  as  ate  pase  22,  and  eight  page  45  ;  bare 
and  bearpitgo  141 ;  day  and  dey  p;ige  55,  flew  page  45,  and  flue  pacre  39 ;  fore  pa:rc  22,~and  four  page  45  ;  gage  page 
22.  and  i^aiigc  pa^'C  1.54  ;  gaii  p:ige  45.  and  £:ate  piige  22 ;  hole  p:i:re  22,  and  whole  page  1 19  ;  maiz  jiasrc  39,  and  m.nze 
page  22  ;  niaic  jiage  141,  ana  mayor  page  74  ;  n:ead  page  39,  and  meed  luige  29  ;  peer  paire  29,  and  jiier  pag-e  45 ;  pbiit 
page  45.  and  piatepage47;  soar  page  45,  and  sore  page  22;  sine  page  22,  and  siirn  page  138  ;  ra^e  jiage  22,  and  tail 
page  40  ;  to!e  p.  22,  loil  page  32  ;  tiay  and  trey  pase  .o5  :  wane  pa^re  22.  and  wain  patre  45;  ween  pasre  29,  and  wean 
p:ri.'e  40 ;  wall  i;ai:o  32,  and  waul  p.i.'e  47 ;  dust  i>'(ge  24  and  145,  and  Ao^t  pare  145  ;  iThese  two word.« rire  c!as.=c(t  on 
page  115.  as  being  -not  exactly  alike  in  pronunciation, 'but  in  .'Mr.  Webster's  octavo  dictionarv  tliev  are  pronounced 
alike  !  dost  is  not  in  Webster's  dutxlecimo  dictionary  !j  nit  pase  21.  and  knit  paire  136  ;  bmit  jJaire  45.  and  biute 
page  118 ;  anker  page  56,  and  anchor  page  123 ;  travel  pare  57,  and  travail  pare  73  Tcruel  rare  C5,  and  crewel  page 
87  ;  asperate  and  aspirate  page  103— FIETY-SiX— are  not  classed  with  tlieir  distinctive  dohnitions  ! 

Fourtiily :— Mr.Eiy  luis  also  inserted  in  the  other  lessons  seventy  three  words  e.ach  of  which  hxxs^  another  word  cor- 
respo.i.'i','^  In.'^'ind  in  ."Tr.  V.'i  ^-'^.r•s  liictionary,  not  one  of  wtnch  is  in  this  ie.-son,  or  in  anyotber  speUinj?  lesson 
of  i;  ■  '  ii  not,  Irom  the  use  of  the £/fw;tnrc7T/.Spellinf-Bok,  ever  become  acquaint- 

ed •.  finitions  of  the  sixt}--eight  words  corresponding  in  sound  witli  these !  as 

bai;  seer  page  29  and  scar  page  45,  sla-.er  ;ige  I4l,  hrard  pnge  39,  hay  and  key 

pag  ...  ,  'ebster's  bctavodictionary,)  peak' pare  C9.  place  pare  42.  jiort  pare  .55,  fofit 

pare  45,  ijiiuca  px^j  29,  i:.yi,r-  1  i:.  j  i:3,  slew  page  45,  {not  in  Webster's  durilecimo.  but  in  his  f  ctavo  dictionary.) 
swear  pare  45  and  141,  throne  pare  £4,  roro  pare  22,  thyme  pare  37,  beaux  p;ire  154,  wade  pare  22.  wail  p.ire  40, 
wheel  pare  119,  cliaste  page  118, choir fiage  37 and  123,  [choir  is  pronounced  as  quire  both  in  Wfb=ter's  tctavd  ana 
schoil  diciionaiies,  hut  ?,!r.  Ely  has  inserted  it  in  the  .Spelling- Book  on  pares  37.-\nd  l£3,  and  in  both  rases  has  riven 
oi  the  diphthor.gy  I  iound,  contrary  to  loth  the  dictionaries ! !  •]  phrase  i-are  37,  rloze  paee  47,  nose  pnge  S7,  lees  page 
29,  lloasc.  t.o  glean,  is  pronounced  as  lees  in  V.'eliSter's  octavo,  but  noMn  his  .school  dictionary!)  greaves  pare  43, 
told  p.iL'.:  or,  i,.;;."  \>i.^ii  27.  1. ;•,•!.-'•  p,'  ■':  :L',  j.il-..-.  f;",-.  ;i  i  .c  17. 1'l:..:.  e  1  -.Z'-  !7.  i,:i\v  !■:  ce  5'.  i-ni.-e  pare  47.  sense 
par':  7  runr  p-n-e  IS4, 

ter  •  ■or page 57,  trea- 

li3-  ;  ■    61,  pencil  pnge 

44.11 , .      -■ -    ...        ........    -:,      .,._...,  -,  iiiiennon  pages?, 

seize  p.;j.,.ii..(.  ,'..;;o..  .^.b.-.  -  .-■;.'.  ;:.\'i  i  -THllLi;  Y.uliLii— ihc  v.orui  coiic.pwidii.g  i-;i  i^'^iid  w  iUi  v  hich  are  tiot  in 
anv  .-pel.inr  '..'•.ss.  n  of  tit  book  ! 

Fif':.!y  i-Thrcur.-^  )••';.-.•.•! -■?  a  rrf'af  mnny  worrl?  nf  th;- 0!?=:-  In  ^.T"-.  'Woh'^frT^  <'.'c?''>"'>r>-.  ♦'^nt  1?,  nvo  or  more 
wl.  '  ...:.,.,,    .:.^.        ..  -.     .-  .;..,..   .^^1^  neitlif-r  are 

the-:  '     he  laurht  their 

5, 1.  ,■.'.(?  .=^^uch  words 

inttr  ,  ■  ^\io.  ard  siehs, 

^rca;..!  .i/l;.-.-,  ..t  :M-i,:  -d  '  .••:.. if,  t>c  :i!;r  ti-r,  v,-;iivi:  juid  \v;..f.  :'^.-''"-^  '  -><-:-.l.  riiKv  .- -vi  -.'.k.  l-n.b  ;m(J  limn, 
links  and  lynx,  hrui.-e  and  hrews,  cruise  and  crew.'?,  baitinr  ard  l^iinr.  w  :'.kly  and  weekly,  n.ari'^rhal.  marshal, 
and  martiul.  lx-t"^r  a!i  1  l.^-tto"-,  r-d!oi<c  ;..i,i  r-.iiuc,  rinrle  an-'  siiiric.  cyrnet  :md  sirnet,  disani-  and  discu.s,  subtle 

and"-'       -     ••  ->.!■...         :...,„..  I     .  ' -if-'n  and  uipiration,  &c.  &c  noacof  whicliarelnany 

of  • 

^■\.  i  1^  word?  In  thtsl.'^sson  wccan  not  nprortain  how  he 

int< .  '•  ••*'  :in  \  l^V.^.  hy  nnd  hry,  seallnr  and  reili;  g,  cion 

uTd -i'V:i.  "•■i!,' .;  ....  ..     .         'i'lrt  nod  indite,  I'.sr.  lier, 

and 'yre,  o'l  r,ti  i  ■  '.1  viol,  &c.  ;  although 

Mr.  Ely  la.- .  ;.i.l  n  the  pronunciation  of 

eiihcr  of  t!ie  wo  /  •  •  ! 

Seventhly  :— lix.t;  li  ;i  ;  1;^;  ti;-  >■,[  ■  nly  tiro  or  thrre  words 

of  similar  sotuul,  when  t  .  and  in  Wob.sier's  dictionarv':  as  by 

buy,  pare  pair,  rairi  reirii  lAit  has  cnilttedio  cl??s  with  tl.em  bye, 

bear  p.  141,  rein,  i-l.ircslai''.  o'.  \ur.:  p  -  >  ; 

Eirhthly  -.—T.U-  VAy  l;ar.  cl.->Fre'l  a  ntJmher  of  won'--  .  as  beinr  smrded  aiiko.  whirh  evidently  are 

rot.  and  btould  770:  b?  alike:  as  c.ntiauy  and  ccntn  ■  '  rh  oiilcii .  rnri.int  ;-r.d  cu'-.n,!  .■=Mnbol  and 

O'Uibal,  prliirj;):il  ar.;'  ;;iiTl;i;e.  f:r..    [On  page  11.'  >':  ■''  Ihe  wo  ds  medal  arid  nifi'i'le  with  "  woirts 

nearlii.  but  nor  f;>,acllv'alike  in  pronunoiarion."  vet  ir.  !  as  classi'd  the  preccdinc  wm  5  ch'.orlral  and 

chrorilrlc,  piii-tipal  and  principle,  havi:,R  the  <'«w  •  te-  '  and  mrdd'<!),  as  beinr  l-ro:'.  ntred  aW.-e ! '' 

Ninthly  :-Mr.  Elv  has  also  spelled  a  number  of  '.;  .try  to  Webster"!  dictlcr-try    11. uc.  ba«s  Ob 


44  Webster's  ELEMENTARY  SPELLING-BOOK, 

music)  do«S  not  appear  at  all  in  "We'oster's  school  dictionarj-.  raid  tliis  clx«is  (hjise,  low.  vile,  and  bass  in  imsicj  tk> 
9iot  belong  in  this  lesson !  boult,  (to  sift)  does  not  aiJi)ear  in  AS'ebster's  school  dictionary,  and  this  class  (bolt,  f\  fast- 
ening to  a  dooi",  and  boult,  to  sift)  does  noi  belong  in  this  lesson !  casque,  (a  helmet)  does  not  appear  in  Webster's 
school  dictionary,  and  this  class  (cas^c,  a  vessel  for  liquids,  and  casque,  a  helmet,)  does  not  belon?  in  this  lesson  i 
dracnm,  (a  small  weight)  does  not  appear  in  "Webster's  school  dictionary,  and  this  class  (clram,  a  drink  of  spirit,  and 
drachm,  a  small  weight)  does  not  belong  in  this  lesson!  nought  (none)  is  not  the  preferable  spelling  in  Webster's 
school  dictionary,  and  this  class  (naught,  bad,  and  nought,  none)  does  net  belong  in  this  lesson !  nett  (clear  of 
charges)  does  not  appear  in  V.'ebster's  school  dictionary,  and  this  class  (net.  a  woven  snare,  and  nett.  clear  of 
charges)  does  not  belong  in  this  lesson !  ouse  (tanners'  bark)  does  7iot  appear  in  AVebster's  school  dictionary,  and 
this  class  (ooze,  to  issue  oc.t,  and  ouse,  tanners'  bark)  does  not  belong  in  this  lesson  !  route,  (a  way  or  course)  is 
«orihe  preferable  spelling  in  Webster's  .school  dictionary,  and  tliis  class  (rout,  a  confused  quarrel,  and  route, a 
course  or  way)  dr.cs  «o? belong  in  this  lesson  !  seine,  (a  fish  net)  is  spelled  contrary  I o  Webster's  dictionary; 
should  Ije  sein  !  |In  Mr.  Webster's  quarto  and  octavo  dictionaries  ho  says  under  the  word  net :  "  it  is  sometimes 
written  nett,  but  improperly,"  3'et  Mr.  Ely  has  inserted  nett  in  this  lesson  ! !)  Thus  Mr.  Ely  has  inserted  in  this 
lesson  EIGHT  clas-se?  of"  words  pronounced  alike,  h\x\rdiffcrent  in  orthography,"  while  they  are  in  Webster's  dic- 
tionary with  but  one  orthography  i 

Tenthly  :-Mr.  Ely  has,  in  this  lesson,  on  p.  146  second  column,  inserted  cent,  sent  and  scent,  with  their  distinc- 
tive definitions  ;  and,  he  has  inserted  sent  and  scent  again  on  p.  149,  first  column !  !  On  p.  147,  dun  and  nap  are 
Inserted  tunce!  On  p.  MO,  he  has  "  rear,  to  raise,"  ami  "  rear,  the  hin'J  part."  with  rear  spelled  ftZjfcc  in  torft  cases; 
yet  Mr.  Ely  has  classed  it  here  with  "  tvords  pronounced  alike,  but  DIFFERENT  in  orthograpky"  \  \  \  Same  page 
149,  Mr.  Ely  has  inserted  "  shore,  sea  coast,"  and  "  shore,  a  prop,"  with  shore  s^ielled  alike  in  both  cases ;  yet 
he  has  classed  it  here  with  ''■  words,  differetit  in  orthography"  !  1  [In  Mr.  AVebster's  o!d  Spelling-Book,  he  had,  on 
p.  148,  "  shore,  side  of  a  river,"  and,  "  s"hoar,  a  prop,"  a  bhmder  which  he  evi;!cntly  covicd  froni  Dilworth's  Spell- 
ing-Book.  This  blunder  Mr.  Ely  corrected,  either  by  the  assistance  of  Walker's  Rhvmins  Dictionary.  London  Edi- 
tion 1824,  (See  Introduction  to  this  review  p.  6,)  or  from  the  criticism  which  appeared  In  tlie  Albanv  Arsus  (see  p.  32,) 
yet  he  has  retained  the  word  in  this  lesson  with  Avords  different  in  orthoirraphy  ! ! !]  The  definitions  of  some  of 
these  classes  are  rather  singular,  as  "  nap,  ok\  cloth  ;"  "fanr.,  a  weather-cr-ck,"  &c.  &c. !  [See  'Webster's  school 
dictionary,  in  v.'hioh  they  are  not  thus  defined.]  On  pages  150, 151.  152,  !,^3.  Mr.  Ely  has  given  short  sentences,  in 
which  the  words  of  distinctive  definitions  are  exhibited,  as,  "  What  ails  the  child  ?"  &c.  &c.  In  these  sentences  Mr. 
Ely  has  inserted  letter  and  lettor,  calendar  and  calender,  mead,  fie^jj  and  f:ue,  peak  and  piq^ie,  peer  and 
pier,  pore  and  potir,  rein,  sign,  ihreio  and  through,  utrait  and  straight,  tail  tiiid  tale,  &c.  vv-hcn  he  has  not  classed 
one  of  them  with  the  words  of  distinctive  definitions  !  On  p.  154  and  1.55,  Mr.  Ely  has  given  a  class  of  "  words  of 
irregular  orthography."  This  lesson  contains  a  great  many  words  which  v^^erein  the  lesson  contwining  words  of 
distinctive'definitions,  and.  therefore,  as  the  pronunciation  of  those  words  is  wor  given,  this  lesson  (p.  154)  should 
have  preceded  the  words  of  distinctive  definitions,  or  their  pronunciation  be  given  to  avoid  th.e  repetition  of 
tliem  here ;  as  p.  154,  beau,  been,  isle,  one,  done,  would,  dou^h,  neish,  sleigh,  weieh,  houaib,  p.  155,  seignior,  &c. ! 

On  p.  155,  he  has  a  class  of  Avords  in  which  "  h  after  r  is  silent,"  and  on  p.  1^9  he  ha.s  iVzetoric,  and  on  p.  126  rhi- 
noceros with  h  italick ;  and  they  are  inserted  again  in  this  lesson  ! 

On  p.  l.;'^-  Jslr--  I'^ly  h;i3  a  cbss  of  words  of  which  he  says, "  in  the  following,  ve  at  ihe  end  rf  the  primitive  word 
are  silent ;"  and  he  has  inserted  roguish  in  this  lesson, in  which  there  isnoue  !  again,  he  has  rcgiKry,  in  which  ibfl 
«e  are  not  silent  in  Webster's  octavo,  but  are  in  his  school  dictionar}'!  And  again,  he  has  nw^ave  wnd  opaque,  in 
this  lesson,  wrongly  spelled  and  classed,  as  they  are  both  spelled  without  i«e  in  Webster's  scliobl  dictionary,  thus, 
lynosk  and  opake  .' ! 

A  great  evil  attending  this  system  of  classification  by  terminations,  is,  that  the  scholars  will,  in  ni<in3'  instances, 
obtain  the  habit  of  a  m.onotonous  sing  son?  pronunciation  ;  and,  the  system  nl.so  leads,  in  a  gmat  ninny  instances, 
toerrour  in  the  pionunciatiou  of  the  teimin.ating  syllable;  thus,  on  p.  104.  fonrt.h  coUtmn,  chilVdain.  vi!l:dn,  mort- 
main, plantain,  vervain,  curfa-.n,  in  which  the  sound  of  ai  should  iie  chnnircd  //j;T/r  times  in  sounding  the  J.ix  words, 
from  long  a  to  short  i.  and  from  long  i  to  short  a  !  The  scholar  will,  as  tiicy  are  now  classed,  naturally  pronounce 
them  all  with  a  lon,9r,  or  all  with  i  sh*rt !  Same  page  second  column,  annvls  nnd  entrails,  and  no  rule  is  given  for 
their  pronunciation!  The  scholar  will,  most  unquestionably,  be  inclined  to  pronounce  both  tennin.sTio.'-iR  with  a 
short,  or  a  long.  The  same  may  bs  said  of  the  next  two  words  'mitten-''  and  '.vmonons,  in  which  temninaiions  they 
will  pronounce  the  «  and  0  alike.  &.C.  &.C.  acamples  of  which  may  be  seen  onalm.ost  every  page  of  the  book,  wbeie 
there  arc  spelling  lessons.    ' 

ARUANGEr.IErn". 

Next  in  importaticc  to  tlic  proper  cZ<ts.<f^ccf7'.7??.  of  words  intended  for  spelling  lessons,  containing  ihc  difTcrcnt 
»ind  peculiar  vowel  and  consonant  tounds,  is  the  due  arrangement  of  the  words  thus  classed,  according  to  tlie  ease 
or  difficulty  with  which  their  orthography  and  pronunciation  arc  learned. 

Thus,  on  page  29.  Mr.  Ely  has  inserted  monosyllables  containing  ee,  en  p.  ?0,  those  containing  00,  and  on  p.  "" 


words  v/hich  contain  d).  V:.  g;;-.  U,  *'v,  rr,  as  lees,  brecr.c.  srocso,  oild,  ebb,  egg,  pass.  purr.  &c.  and  pace  S6  in  which 

■         '    '  , ih.. sylph, nymph. <£:c.  But.on  p.  42,he  hasword.-;v;ith  fl,^,  and  o!one,asblH(le, 

slide,  choke,  p.  43.  fpoi>-. '  ;  me,  drone,  brave,  drove,  which  are  much  more  easy  for  f  lie  scholar  to  learn 


dge,  tch,  Iph,  nnph,  &c..  k; 


than  those  on  pages  ;j?, :  .•  .  _  ;  preceding  ih.em  as  noted  above !  Again,  Mr.  Ely  ha;;  a  class  of  mrro-yihjrhles 

on  p.  117  which  a're  more  c  i-..:.  ; .  , ,  :.c  j  tl:an  those  on  pn.  22,  or  3S !  A^ain,  Mr.  Elv  has  on  pases  fa  and  5?,  inserted 
words  oifour  ss'llabies,  and  on  p.  f.l,  ho  has  easy  v.-ords  of  ftro  syllables  !  He  ha.s  a  class  of  wnds  of  three  syllables 
on  pages  82  ana  S'i,  and  words  of  fivo  syllables  "much  more  easily  learned  on  pages  Sfi  and  87 !  On  pasre  S4.  he  bar. 
difficult  monosyllables  in  which  the  sound  of  th  is  exlribited,  and  on  p.  JiT.  thirty  pages  after  them,  he  has  easy 
monosyllablps !  On  psws  l'2i  and  125,  he  has  words  in  wh.ich  g  is  hard  before  r.  i,  and  y,  which  i^  one  of  the  nio*! 
easy  lessons  in  the  sp<>ilin£r-book.  placed  after  Vae  words  in  which  x  has  the  sound  of  gz.  p.  icc,  t  th.e  .sound  of  trh, 
p.  121,  i  the  sound  of  y,  p.  122.  .f  and  2,  the  "sound  of  zh.  p.  l^C  and  123,  ch  liVc  k.  p.  IS?,  which  are  the  most  difficult 
lessons  in  the  spclUns-hi^ok  !  On  p.  13-1,  he  has  v.-ords  in  which  7i^  has  its  o'-'^n  and  clos;e  sov.nd,  wldch  isonc  of 
the  most  can/  lessons  in  T!,e  btjok.  placed  after  the  words  in  which  c,  s,  and  t.  have  fn'^  smtnd  of  sh.  on  pp.  iCo,  1-27, 
and  128,  which  are  the  rno^f  ftuficult  in  the  langu^sge!  And  again,  tbe  words  which  t^;\d  in  le  on  pago*^  I4i.  H2,  143, 
and  144,  are  placed  M't'T  ton  (>v  Cttecn  lessens,  the  orthography  of  which  is  move  diffxvlt  to  be  obtained,  than  that 
of  the  lessons  prec.'fing,  ir-  above  jxiteii.  Thus,  T  th'nl^  it  will  appear  evident  to  every  p-^rsoi',  om  examination,  that 
these  lessons  are  not  all  arranged  with  duo  regard  to  the  ease  cf  learnin.g  tiieir  orthographj-  (^r  i.ironunciation. 

'  ORTHOGRAPin'. 

There  is,  perhaps,  no  Iiranch  of  education  by  which  the  learned  and  tz-e  i!l!trr.-:te  arc  so  rpadii3'  and  r-o  genevalljf 
fllstinguished,  as  thatof  spollins.  So  univcr::al  )s  the  condemnation  of  bad  spetiio-T.  among  all  classes  of  citir.enp, 
-Jhether  professional,  mercantile,  or  mechanica'i,  th;\t  no  person,  it  is  believed,  can  he  found  wV.o  would  he  willing 
4o  be  identified  with  it.  The  subject  of  orthograp\.y,  iherefore,  Is  of  primary  Importance  in  the  education  r>r  chil- 
dren, and  should  engage  the  atte'ition  of  parents,  anrt  an  teachers  more  c^pncioliy.  since  it  may  fairiy  be  assumed 
that  one  third  ui  the  whole  time  spent  in  acquiring  a  asofai  education,  is  devoted'  to  this  particular  branch. 

I  will  now  show,  that,  althoueb  Mr.  Elv  hds,  in  the  orthoiziuphy  of  the  Elemeritant  SpcUing  Book,  avoided  most 
of  the  errours  in  spellin-r  pointed  out  in  the  Albany  Argus  In  1^27,  [see  page  22,]  vet  he  has  spelled  other  words 
contra rv  to  ALL  of  Webster's  dictionaries;  so  that  the  orthograplfty  of  the  nno  s"pelling-book  is  M'ORE  ERRO- 
NEOUS than  that  of  the  old  one  ! 

rirst :— Mr.  Ely  has  spoiled  a  great  many  words  contrary  to  all  of  Weleters  dictionaries,  but  agreeably  to  Joh.n-. 
%on  and  Walker ! 

Secondly  :— Mr.  Ely  has  spelled  a  number  of  words  cantra.ry  \o  iY,o.  orrboirraphvof  TlW.vVr's  duod'^cimo  .school 
dictionary,  "his  last  work,  allirritten  and  correctcdly  himself,"  but  agreeably  to  cither  Webster's  octavo  or  quans 
diffionary  ! 

Thirdly  :-Mr.  Ely  has  spelled  a  number  of  words  contrary  to  ALL  of  Webster's  dictionaries,  1  ut  agreoablv  to 
Webster's  old  spelling-book ! 

Fonrtiily :— Mr.  E'y  has  spelled  a  numb<:>r  of  word.s  cr-ntrary  to  /  LL  Webster's  dicticnaries,  contra':-'/  to  bte  old- 
f p(^llir>--h'.to'-:,  and  .il-o  ronfrary  to  fh<?  orthoiraphy  of  J,->bnson  and  Walker  i : 

Filthly  -.—V.r.  t:.v  lir<:  also  s;*:^lied  tlw  same  words  in  IKO  nrFFER!:N'T  wav,^.,  v.-hilo  It  i.^  rncllod  h\\x  r.;]^  way  In 


COMPILED  BY  AARO.X  ELY.  45 

Sixthly :— Mr.  Kly  has  frequenily  spelled  a  word  Iml  one  wav.  while  it  is  spelled  two  ways  in  Webster's  dictiima- 
r<e»;and,  he  has  sometimes  giver,  the  orthography  which  Mr.  Wehster  /jtw  preferred,  by  placing  it  first  in  his 
dictionaries,  and  at  nther  times  he  has  given  that  which  Mr.  Weljstsr  lias  not  preferred  \ 

Thus,  on  pa?e8,  Mr.  Ely  has  hroiicr,  agreeably  to  Webster's  dictionaries,  and  on  pa;:o  122  he  has  it  brazier,  con- 
tranj  lo  all  of  them !  Oa  page  13,  trlssyUable  with  ss,  contrary  to  all  Web.ster's  dictionaries !  On  pag*  20,  he  has 
spelled  rui  (ruda.)  contra-'y  to  Webster's  dictionary  !  On  p;igc  ai.lio  has  spelled  dum  (du'.nb.)  contniry  to  Webster  s 
iictionary!  Sanupa/e  rsn,  anil  it  is  lorc/i  in  Webster's  dicLioiinry !  S;une  pa^e  tz/H,  ;md  it  is  spelled  ^jmanrt 
barm  i n  Webster's  school  dictionary  !  Same  paire 21,  vjot  a!;icr.a.ljhj  it  Webster's  dictionary,  and  it  is  spelled  icat  oa 
the  same  p:t'-'e,  contrary  lo  Webster !  On  page  'zifuge,  and  it  is  siielled /«§•««  in  Webster's  dictionao' !  Same  pa^» 
22,  ca/e,  spelled  fca.'e  in  Websrer's  ilicUonary  !  On  pasic23,  6r5«r  and  it  is  spelled  6ro«nn  Webster's  school  r.ic- 
tioaary !  ()n  paiie  24,  dtapt  blest,  drest,  curst,  and  they  are  spslied  chapped,  bkiscd,  drc^^fd,  and  cursed  in  Web- 
ster's school  diciioniry  •  !  Same  page  24,  cUt,  and  it  is  spelled  ojst  on  i)ase  8,  and  in  ail  Webster's  dictionaries  i ! 
On  pH^e  2o,  aioop,  and  it  is  spelled  sicap  on  pa^je  47,  and  in  Webster  s  scliool  dirlionarj- '.  Same  pa^re  26,  sted,  and 
it  is  spelled  stea/i  on  pase  U7,  and  it  is  spelled  in  ihcs*:!  two  ways  in  Webster's  dictioiiaries !  l)ut  stead  is  placed^rrt 
in  the  'iictionary,  and  Mr.  Ely  has  «fc<itirstin  the  spelling-boolc,  so  that  tlie scholar  who  learns  sted  on  page  26,  will 
pass  one  liiindrcd  and  ten  p;iges  before  he  will  know  Webster's  preferable  spelling  stead  ! !  On  paee  27,  cranch, 
contrary  to  Webster's  quarto  And  octavo  dictionaries,  but  it  is  spelled  craunch  and  cranch  in  the  sctiool  dictionary^ 
but  craunch  is  placed  first  as  the  preferable  spelling  in  that  dictionary  ;  Mr.  Ely  has  therefore,  spelled  it  contrary 
to  all  of  thera  !  On  same  page  27,  hanch,  contrary  to  Webster's  quarto  and  octaVo,  but  in  the  school  dictionary  he 
has  It  hanch,  haunch  in  one  place,  and  haunch  and  hanch  in  another  ;  thus,  alternately  giving  each  spelling  a  pref- 
erence by  placing  it  first  ill  On  page  29.  Mr.  Ely  has  .spelled  sneelc,  contrary  to  Webster's  dictionary,  but  on  pagr 
39,  he  has  spelled  it  sneaJc,  agreeably  to  Webster  i  On  page  30,  ton,  coturary  to  Webster's  dictionary,  and  on  page 
I5u,  he  has  spelled  it  tun,  agreeably  to  Webster !  On  page  31,  slick,  contrary  to  Webster's  school  dictionar>',  m 
whicli  ii  Is  spoiled  sleek !  [Slick  is  the  vulgar  pronunciation  of  sleek .']  On  page  32,  scatl.  contrary  to  Webster's 
school  dictionary,  in  which  it  is  spelled  scald !  On  samo  p;ise  32,  burr  and  bur  two,v/ays,  and  but  one  way  (bur) 
in  Wcuster's  dictionary  I  On  same  page  32,  tress.  The  word  is  noMn  Webster's  school  dictionary,  but  in  the 
quarto  and  octavo  it  is  spelled  tan-ace,  tarrats,  tcrrass,  and  tra'is,  and  Mr.  Ely  has  taken  the  orthography  least  pre- 
ferred by  Mr.  Webster, or  the  shortest  spelling ! !  On  pacre  35,  cumfrey  and  comfry  in  Web.-ter's  school  dictionary; 
but  it  is  spelled  i/irffi  ways  in  Webster's  quarto  ana  octavo  dictionaries,  thus,  com/m/.  comfry,  and  cumfrey  ! ! 
On  page  37,  phletm,  asitXJleam  in  Webster's  dictionary !  S:ime  page  37,  coj/ and  ouoif,  hwt  coif  is  the  preferabU 
word  in  Weljster's  dictionary  !  On  page  40,  mein,  and  on  p:ige  MS.  it  is  spelled  mien  !  On  page  41,  he  has 
villainy  with  i  in  the  second  syllable,  contrary  to  the  preferable  spelling  in  Webster's  quarto,  but  agreeably  to 
Webster's  school  dictionary!  On  page  42.  splice,  contrary  to  Wclister's  school  dictionary  ;  but  it  is  spelled 
»p/jfeand  jfp/J>eboth  ways  in  Webster's  quarto  and  octavo  dictionaries  !  On  paire  43,  peddler  agreeably  lo  Web- 
ster's school  dictionary,  but  contrary  to  the  quarto  and  octavo  !  On  page  45,  chints,  contrary  toWebster's  school 
dinionarv,  but  agreeably  to  his  quarto  and  octavo!  Same  page'45,  shetc  and  show  two  ways,  but  one  way 
(show  in  Webster's  school  dictionary  !  On  page  47,  haunt,  flaunt,  and  vaunt  but  o?j«  way,  and  thev  are  all 
spelled  two  ways  in  Webster's  school  dictionary  i  On  page  49,  enthrallment,  and  inthrallment  in  a'l  "V^ebster's 
dictionaries  !  Ua  pa^e  50,  hillock,  hemlock,  and  niattock  with  fc,  contrary  to  Webster's  octavo,  but  agreeably  to 
his  quarto  and  school  dictionaries!  On  page  55,  plow;  spelled  two  ways  in  Webster's  octavo  dictionary!  On  p. 
56.  ledger,  atid  leger  is  the  preferable,  spelling  in  Weijster's  school  dictionary  !  Siime  page  56.  satchel  contrary 
to  all  W'bster's  iliciionaries,  liut .agreeably  ro  h.is  old  spelling-book  !  On  page  59,  panado,  but  panada  is  the 
preferable  spelling  in  Webster's  school  dictionary  !  On  same  page  59,  votatoe,  contrary  to  Webster's  quarto, 
hut  agreeably  to'  his  school  dictionary  I  S^me  page  maneuver  and  viclasses,  and  manoeuvre  and  mo- 
lasjcs  is  the  pre/e/aJi^c  •..pc'lling  in  the  octavo!  On  p.  61,  debonair,  contrary  to  all  three  of  Webster's  dic- 
tionaries (dcbonnair,)  but  agreeally  to  Ins  old  spelling  boolc  !  On  same  p.  61.  sentry,  and  in  Webster's  school 
diclionarv,  he  .says,  "sentry,  a  corruption  of  the  word  sentinel !"  S;ime  p.  ?«77.'ry,"and  wintcrj-.  in  Webster's 
dictionary  !  p.  62.  lilly,  and  lily  Webster's  dictionary  !  p.  62,  Iwliday,  spellc.l  liolyday  in  the  dictionarv  !  p.  64,  rilin 
and  porpiss  i  m\  ribbon  and  porpoise  is  the  preferatds  spelling  in  Webster's  octavo  dictionarv !  Same  p.  gordon, 
txoo  svll-.tbles  and  it  is  spell^-d  gordian,  three  syllables,  in  Webster's  dictionaries' !  Snme  p.  gri^fi,  spelled  griffon 
In  Webster's  dictionaries !  On  p.  fi5,  giinblet,  spelled  two  ways  in  Web.ster's  octavo  dictionary  .'thus,  cimllet.  gim- 
let! On  p.  68.  scurrilous  with  rr,  but  with  single  r  in  Web.ster's  school  dictionary  !  On  p.  70.  almanack  with  k,  but 
It  is  spelled  without 'j  in  Webster's  octavo  dictionary!  Same  p.  to/rarf,  and  laureate  in  Webster's  dictionaries! 
Sime  p.  70,  pompion  and  pum'cin,  and  it  is  spelled  pumpkin  in  Webster's  school  dictionary !  On  p.  73,  fiandsel  anj 
on  p.  1.57  lutnsel ;  and  it  is  spelled  handsel  only  in  Webster's  dictiinarle.-: !  hansel  is  agreeable  to  Webster's  old  spel- 
ling-boolv !  S:ime  p.  73,  sylvan,  spelled  silvan  in  Webster's  school  dictionary* !  On  )).  73,  un>nixt,  and  unmi.red  is  the 
preferable  spelling  in  Webster's  school  dictionary !  On  p.  7S.  millennial  with  nn.  spelled  with  single  n  in  all  thrc« 
of  Webster's  dictionaries!  On  p.  78,  cpa\:e,  agreeably  to  Web-ter's  quarto  and  cchcl  dictionaries,  hut  on  p.  15G.  it  is 
spoiled  opaque  agreeably  to  V.'alker  and  to  the  prpferable  spelling  in  Webster's  oct..a-\-o:  On  p.  79.  insnarc  asrre^ably, 
to  Webiter  s  dictionaries,  but  on  p.  141,  it  is  spelled  ensnare  contrarj'  to  them  !  Same  p.  79,  raccoon,  si.x:Ilcd  c  ntrary 
to  Webster's  quarto  and  octavo  dictionaries,  but  a^retably  to  his  school  diciionao'!  Same  p  79,  pcltroon,  and  it  6 
spelieJ  p'jUroon  in  all  three  of  Webstc.  's dictionaries! 

On  p.  81,  bast inoilo.  four  syliahlos.  spelled  tastinc:!:,  three  syllables,  in  Web'^ter's  school  dictionan- :  On  p.  C2,  cv\- 
Icndsr,  and  iliisoellcd  co^t^'i-'J  inall  three  of 'Wcbjter's  diclionarie.'  ;  thus,  there  aie  three  th.niUrs  In  this  word, 
a  first  syllable,  otie  /,  and  a  in  tl>c  second  syll-'.ble  in^Vebstei-'s  dictionaries,  and  u  first  svlablo.  //  and  c  in  the  se»- 
ond  syllable  in  the  spelling-bo )k! !  !  On  p.  83.  villainous;  villanous  is  the  preferable  sreliing  in  the  octavo  and 
quarto!  Same  p.  83.  wit'iM.  U,  and  it  is  spelled  withal  single  Hn  Webster's  quarto  and  octavo,  but  with  II  in  his 
school  dictionary  !  On  p.  84,  tho^cl.  spelled  thol".  m  all  Webster's  dictionaries  !  Same  p.  vicatii.  spelled  mearhe  \n 
Webster's  ocuvoand  quarto,  but  is  not  in  his  .'^^ch  :ol  dictionary! !  .S^m^  p.  P4,  hi::hth.i\x\^  on  p.  lis.  Mght ;  It  is 
spelled  W?/i/ and /njiV/i  in  Webster's  scUool  dicM mary  ;  in  his  qnailo,  height,  higk'h.  nnd  hight ;  but  in  tl« 
(XX::\-o  h-ight,hiThr,?L\\iX  kizh-hH!  Same  p. //i'-«/;  and  r/jra.-Aspf^.led  fjpo  way;  and  hut  p;?e  wav  In  Webster's 
dictionarv!  ■^\\\i  \).  S\.  tiunib,  -.xvil  thum  wilhoat /' is  the  pr^.fe.rabie  s.neliiag  in  V/ebstpr's  quarto  dictionary! 
Same  p.  »''?.»-'tf/t«  (verb)  with  final  s  Ivi!  witiiont  e  is  the  preferab'e. spelling  in  Webs'or'i  school  dictionarv  !  Or  p. 
65.  thT-.-ih,  and  thrash  in  Webs-".-  ■  'i  '  ^ ;  i  /  i  Same  p.  thr"..-ih''r.  sp?.!l ;  I  rhrixher  in  V.'eh<~;rT's  ilictionary  !  Same 
p.  3-.,  3-t;j?7,  sp"n.--l  gim,-.y  in  v/  •  ,     ■  but  gl7isy\n  his  school  dicionary  !    On  p.  -5,  /'KrZotr.and  furlongh 

Is  the  p.eterab'.?  spelling  in  Wj''  ,  ..iictionary!  On  p.  37,  hainotis  and  vf:rhtnur,\  a. id  hci'nrvs  .aiid' 
nightmare  is  the  pre/i/-rtW«spel!iu  ;  in  i.ij  oc'.wo  dictionar)- !  S.tmep.  f7  trefoil.  i-\v\'-:?  r_  •  .  .i.  ,1  with  ee  in  Web- 
Bier's  sciiool  dictionary,  but  with  .si 'iple  e  in  hi-;  quarto  and  octavo!     On  p.  SS.  ?;.■/  '..'th.ster's  school 

ilictionary,  but   it  is  spelled  turl-x'is  in  his  octavo:      On  p.  89  incll'fincvs  :  -.  tpol^d  with  JT. 

but  thev  are  bv'a  sp^'ljd  with  single  fin  all  tnre3  of  Webster's  dictio;:iri\="  -■  -''rmrnt,  spelled' 

accowrement  in  Webster's  octavo  dictionary  !  On  p  9i,  consistency,  fcur^r'.'  ■  '  -    /^. •/.■/»<:?,  three  Fvlla- 

bles,  in  Webste-s  srh^nol  dict;on-\r>- 1  on  p.  93.in^tru}>i^n'atity  ^inslp I.  i/^s'r  m  Webster's  srliool' dic- 

tionarv! S.ime  p  fts,  ::'^neriV)!"inn,  wit'.i  II,  and  with  single  /  in  nil  '\rrb-':  ■  S:iine  p.  avtrdelvvian, 

e  third  syllable,  but  i  in  Wcb.-cr's  dictionary  !  On  p  CI.  r!...'.'v,-,  :  ]'■■':<  ,'  -  ;  ■,■.    :  cyc.:\  dictl'  naryi 

but  not  in  hi- qivrto  ai;d  n^itiivo!  fJamep.  ?.<T5::/.-''x,  sp  ■      •'  -  iinnlvcr- 

ten':v.fivif-y\\:\h\c%,i>m'vr.rt<mce,four&y\\-\h\tH,\n  .  ■  .\i\\  appo- 

tit  \\\  Webster's  -riiool  dictionary,  but  appovte  in  \\\<  <  -rlecue  in 

all  Webster's  diciionarics!  Oi;  p.  \^3.  ventillata.  wWw  /'.    ,    .  ....  ;..tj  i  onn 

\^.al<rnan.  spelled  rlfrorrJi  aim  koran\r\  all  Wflistrr  s  dict:o!.;iri  J  !  '.i;  \>  ;  .ic  <.'. .  Kii.d  with  dd\n 

nil  Web-iter's dictionaries !  On  p.  lOS,  hco'fach'  and  heartarh'-.  sp'-lled  wltluv.-  i  .tor's  quarto  dictionary, 

but  with  c  in  the  octavo;  and  th'^y  are  .spe!  e  1  with  final  a^ke  and  a'.-'  in  i'.  -v  ••  <\n  p.  no.  mUlcn- 

nium.wWn  nn.  agrecnbly  tr>  Walker,  an>l  i'  is  npf>lle  I  v/lihsinj'le  ;.•  in  a'l  W  ■  r,Ti  p.  m.  innocu- 

late,  with  nn.  spelled  with  sinL'l'^  ?i  in  all  V.'rh>tcr's  diction  iri"^  '  I'r.  p  u  .  lellrd  with  II  in 

all  Webster's  diciion.aries!  On  p.  II3,  valcrwU-wricn  wrt'X  vr'-t:i':»ari(ni  \\:f^  mmr.  y:\se ; 

^\mc  1).  atb.-mos.d'i^rstus'm  dictionary:  on  p  i!t.  ihi      /.■  -■     .'w,  ^■.  i  ,.-   /;,,.,y.   cylla- 

blp«.  in  all  Wfl>KtT'»  diclinnaries  I  S  iino  p.  co'  npt'lhem, 

ill  Welisurr'i  m-honj  (liotion.Ty  n.ilh?  P'-f/.Trt  ,  f     ((p  pp. 

115  anH  1.11.  6«r(Ai-i  wilh  Ift,  an'l  tuH-n  v.-Mi  ,.<!     Onn 

51, 'nc'jmdcr,  spelled  t'»o  ways  in  Wpl<?t?r'H  f'  \\9,  trhif- 

*wn  vrith  one  f ,  and  i?4irfi»;.i  wuh  ir?  in  hI!  %%>  '<-i  ..  I. ■•  .:•>-»- -'  '  ..in.'p  I'ioor :  a' ■ ' -■■^  v.!',t.  nni!  u  i= -i  . ':- i  «  i'hinnl  i»  in  all 
WebM»r's  dictiotiari<^.  and  in  L'lf  dictionariej  of  Johny»n  and  Wnli-ft '  On  P-  f-V.  poK'uin.  unifle  /.  vptWt^  m^tiKrtn.  with  U.  io 
W»h«1;>r'«  dictionaria"!  Same  p  frarierwiih  r.  «n-l  witS  «  in  WeMar'*  diclionnry  •  On  r  TiH.  c'i«riWf».  »p*':lf«l  ct'cUtinn  in  all 
V'«f>«l«r'»  diciiomiri*  1  Sams  bluurifr  in  the  old  ipelllnc-bnoW.     (.See  i-afe  7t]  Sc««it  y.  ISv  :  A!<-j»oi  ;  ii  ii  gf.  Had  tw->   m-ar*  hj  aJ 


46  Webster's  ELEMENTARY  SPELLING-BOOK!. 

"VTclwler'sdlctitnaries,  thus  recision  and  rescission,  and  Mr.  Ely  has  spelled  il  contrary  to  both  of  them  !  Same  p.  123,  mattich,  qjelM 
two  ways  in  Webster's  quarto  and  octavo  !  Same  u.  c/iotic,  spellsd  wulio-.it  A  in  all  VVebster'i  dictionaries,  and  in  the  diclienarie^  o( 
Johnson  and  Walker.  (The  same  blunder  is  in  Webster's oia  si>el!ing-book,  evidently  copied  from  DilT.'jrth's  spelling-book.)  See  u 
32.J  Sjjne  p-  123,  c/iamslion,  spelled  cliamsleon  in  Webster's  quarto  and  octavo  dictionaries !  On  p.  121,  hashish,  wiUi  g^  agreeably 
to  his  old  spelling- bask,  and  to  Johnson  and  Walker,  contrary  to  all  his  dictionaries  !  !  On  p.  125,  twigpn,  contraiy  to  his  diciicnanes, 
agfeeaMy  to  his  oU  sj-elling-booS  !  Oa  p.  123,  Jla^icious,  spelled  contrary  to  all  Webster's  dictionaries  and  to  his  old  spelling-boolt ! 
I  Stt!  p.  50. 1  Same  p.  12^,  /jooifin.'e,  spelled  contrary  to  all  Webster's  diciionarici,  but  asreeably  to  his  olU  spelling-book  !  ISee  p.  53. 1 
On  p.  123,  ckimUt,  chiinintru,  cliinikal,  and  alc,'ii::vj,  on  p.  123,  alc'iimic,  with  i,  SiJcUed  with  e  in  Webster's  octiivo  dictionary  1 
Iftii:  [Seepages  23,  47,  and  43.]  Ou  p.  123,  ecutoiir,  and  on  p.  131,  exlatic  speiled  diiferently  I  On  p.  131,  paramo  ric,  ipel  led  pare- 
goric in  ail  Webster's  diclijiiaries  I  On  p.  133.  exorcize  with  s,  but  it  is  spelled  exorcise  wiib  »  in  all  Webster's  dictionaries,  and  in  the 
f'lctionaries  of  Jo'.inson  and  Walker !  On  p.  137,  hucaneer,  spelled  two  ways  in  Webster's  quarto  and  octavo  dictionaries  !  iSee  p.  43. 1 
Same  p.  cannonier,  spelled  cannoneer  as  the  preferable  spelling  in  Webster's  qaarlo  and  octavo  !  Same  i).  carbinier,  spelled  caraoineer 
as  liie  preferable  spelling  in  Webster's  octavo  and  quarto  dictionary  I  Same  p.  facinc,  spelled  /a«d;t<;  in  all  Webster's  dictionaries! 
Same  p.  dreamt,  spelleadreiT/nei  as  the  prefjrable  spelling  in  Webster's  sch.>ol  dictionary  I  On  p.  133,  repugnaru-y,  four  syllables, 
spelled  r.opug/iance,  iAres  syllables  in  Webster's  school  dictionary  1  Same  p.  6/(ire;»,  spelled  blazon   in  all  Weoster's  dictionaries  1  Oa 

Sill,  fiazle  with  le,  spelled  hisel  with  el  in  all  Webster's  dictionaries  1  Same  p.  bauble,  spelled  batcble  in  all  Web.?ter's  dictionaries  I 
n  y.  112,  coddle  with  di.  spelled  c^j^Z/j  willi  single  d,  as  the  preferable  spelling  in  all  VVebster's  dictionaries!  On  p.  U5,  ra-idisk, 
spelled  radish  with  single  d  in  Webster's  dictionaries  !  The  erroneous  orthography  of  the  eight  words  contained  in  the  class  of  words  oi 
distinctive  definitions  was  pointed  out  on  p.  44.  On  p.  150.  briar,  and  on  p.  25,  brier,  two  ways,  agreeably  to  his  old  spelling-b'.>3k,  con- 
trary to  all  his  dictionaries !  On  p.  151,  oose,  and  on  p.  143,  ooze  and  ouse,  tlu-ee  ways,  and  it  is  spelled  bat  one  way  ooze  in  Webster's 
gihool  tliationary  I  On  p.  152  route,  seine,  spelled  sein  and  rout  in  Webster's  dictionaries  1  Same  p.  sei'nor,  spelled  seignior  on  p.  1 19, 
awl  155,  and  in  Webster's  dictionaries !  [seignor  is  a  blander  in  his  old  spelling  hook,  evidently  copied irom  Dil worth.  See  pp.  32  and 
5V I  On  p.  153,  baseviol,  and  on  p.  39,  baseviol,  spelled  baseviol  :n  Webster's  school  dictionary  !  On  p.  154,  croup  spelled  two  ways  in 
■Webster's  school  dictionary  !  Same  [i.  inasqus,  aiut  mask  in  all  Webster's  di-jtionaries  !  On  p.  155,  brunette,  and  bruntt  preferable  spel- 
!ip«[  in  Webster's  school  diciion-iry  !  Same  p  bdellium,  and  bdelium  in  Webster's  school  dictioniiry  !  On  p-  153,  mo.^que  spelled  agreea- 
yy  10  his  oUi  spelling-book,  contrary  to  all  his  dictionaries,  but  agreeably  to  Johnson  and  Walker !  Opa-jue  an  the  sa.tie  p.  ;  the  erro- 
1C0U3  ortho|raphy  ol  which  has  been  pointed  out !  Same  p.  nought  and  tongue,  spelled  naught  and  tung,  as  the  preferable  spelling  in 
Jis  school  dictionary!  ()'»  p.  153,  <-r.s-A3oii',  spelled  d;'?'isDei  in  Webster's  school  tliction.-u-y  !  On.  p-  160,  lao  and  u>.7e  spelled  two  w.iys, 
Und  but  one  <woe)  in  Web.*ter's  school  dictionary  1  Thus  1  have  pointed  out  some  of  the  most  prominent  difl'ererices  in  the  orthography- 
of  the  Eleineuiary  spelling-book,  and  Webster's  dictionaries,  and  have  fully  shown,  il  is  believed,  that  the  orthography  of  the  neio  spel 
ling  book  is  MORE  KflfioNEOUS  than  the  oW  one  ! 

PRONUNCIATION. 
I  shall  now  Uke  noUce  of  the  "  ANALYSIS  OP  SOU.N'D.S  IN  THE  ENGLISH  LANGOAaE,"  and  point  out  what  I  consider 
idefective  in  it.  And  first : — It  is  slated  on  page  9,  that  "  the  short  souii  I  of  o  in  not,  is  somewhat  lengthened  before  r,  s,  and  ng,  as  ia 
nor,  croij,  brotli,  belong  ;"  ya  Mr.  Ely  has  made  no  distiiction  between  the  long  broad  o,  and  shun  bnncl  o,  in  the  cl-issifuiiioii  ot 
the  wor.ls  in  the  s;)elling-b3ok  1  Tn  u.  on  pag-  31,  he  has  orbit  and  vomit,  imrtar  and  ro'j'ier,  xc.  &j.  all  cl.usse.l  uilir  tigire  two, 
sounded  alike  !  But  Mr.  Webster  did  make  a  ilistinclion  between  these  two  sounds  of  o,  as  it  should  be.  in  his  ol  I  spelling-boot  !     In  the 


An-tlysis  of  the  sounds  of  the  consonants,  Mr.  Ely  has  told  us  that  some  of  the  consonants  t'.rc  silent,  yet  there  iu  c  wm-.-i  l 
which  are  silent,  respecting  the  silence  of  which  he  has  said  nothing.  Again,  he  h.-xs  toUl  us  thai  some  -,>f  the  coiisun.mts  are  never 
sileni,  yet  tliere  are  others  which  are  never  silent  also,  cf  which  he  has  said  nothing.  This  I  jjresume  will  be  considered  a  very  great 
defect  ;  for  the  scholar  would  suppose  (and  reasonably)  that  as  he  has  spoken  of  liie  silence  of  some  of  the  consonants,  he  hai'  iijie<t 
ail  whicii  are  silent  in  his  spelling  lessons :  yet  this  is  not  the  case. 
The  same  defects  which  exi.sl  in  notin"  th?  sounds  of  the  letters  B,  C,  D,  F,  G,  H,  J,  K,  I,,  M,  N,  P,  d,  S,  T,  V,  X,  and  Z,  pouitej 
'.on  pages"}  and  31,  as  contained  in  his  old  spelling-book,  are  so  very  similar,  and  equally  numerous,  that  it  seems  tj  be  unnecessary 


to  repe.il  them  here,  and  the  reader  is,  Iherefo-e,  referred  to  those  pages  for  their  explanatio-i.  It  is  true  .VIr.  Ely  h.is  told  ns  on  page 
11,  that  "  P  befoi-e  «  is  mute  ;"  but  he  has  not  'old  us  that  it  is  silent  ricfore  t,  in  the  same  syllable,  or  between  m  and  t  in  the  same  syl- 
lable. He  has  told  us  that  A  is  silent  after  r,  but  he  h.as  not  told  us  Uiat  it  is  ever  silent  in  any  other  siiualioii,  as  in  herb,  honor.  &c.  I 
Although  .Mr.  Ely  ha.s  some  biters  in  iuilick  in  his  spelling  lessons,  yet  he  has  not  lold  us  in  his  "  A.N'ALV'SIS,"  that  silent  letieis  are 
p-iniecl  in  ililick  '.  and,  consequently,  inasmuch  as  he  has  not  all  sileni  letters  in  ilalick  in  all  hi.-  spelling  lessons,  the  pi-oninci.ition 
raist  be  more  defe-ctive,  indeterminaie,  and  uncertain,  than  in  the  spelling  lessons  of  the  old  spelling-ijijok  in  whicli  the  silent  Iciicri  wsn-e 
it  it.ilick  !  Thas,  ou  ])age  80,  in  receipt,  the  p  is  italick,  but  in  temptation  page  93,  consumption  jiage  97,  con^sumptioe  and  prjju:np- 
t.vc  page  6S,  peremptory  page  67,  &c  the  p  is  not  in  italick,  and  we  can  not  know  from  the  spelling-book,  whether  the  p  s'louij  oe 
sr.inJed  c-  not  !  Again,  ft  is  .lalick  in  Aour  page  33,  in  Aonor  page  61,  but  not  in  herb  |iage  27  !  Shall  we  pronounce  il  er'i  or  Iter'}} 
C'u  p.ige  30,  two,  w  U  lint  in  ilal>ck  as  it  is  on  page  39  in  the  old  spelling-book  !  Sliall  we  sou:i  1  the  to  .'  The  answer  to  tlii.-!  quc;>tion  can 
c-ji  bi!  known  uiuil  we  arrive  at  page  US,  where  Viao  is  classed  with  tcr'  in  which  there  is  no  w  '.  Is  the  first  t  silent  in  i>{ieslnut  page  3J, 
or  sho'ild  it  be  soiinded  1  Is  A  silent  in  thyme  page  37,  or  should  it  be  sounded  7  The  u  is  ilalick  in  guile  page  13,  but  not  In  g'.iilefiii 
lage  87  Should  it  be  sounded  in  guileful  .'  On  page  45,  eight,  weight,  &o.,  page  SO,  aligtU,  delight,  &c.,  p.ige-US.^ig'iI,  &c.,  jf'i  not  ii> 
.tiiTick,  but  in  italick  in  daugAler  and  slaugftter  page  107  1  On  page  47,  Mr  Ely  has  salve^  I  italick,  and  calve,  in  which  /  is  also  silent, 
tie  h.is  among  irregular  words  on  jiag".  151 !  Is  ihfe  a  silent  in  mouiUai-ious  page  48  ?  or  in  moanlaiueer  page  61  ?  lit  silonl  in  6i-i.t- 
luplcy  p.igc  62  7  On  page  13,  i.Ve  are  told  that  when  "<■  follows  a  conscnanl,  at  the  end  of  word.s,  with  a  single  vowel  preoedi:ig,  ili.U 
rowel  except  the  dotted  i,  is  long  as  in  fate,  mete,"  &c.  How  then  shall  we  sound  the  last  i  in  pristine  ua^h  6"3,  i  \\\  famine,  doctrine, 
^Si-Jine,  &c  page  73,  prOOTi.«e  page  83,  e.recul!Be  page  77.  &c.  &c.  7  Certainly  i  long.  Shall  we  sound  n  long  in  /i-jc/ny  page  71,  or 
riiotiid  the  a  be  silent  and  the  y  sounded  7  &c  &c.  &c.  Throughout  all  the  spellin|  lessons,  the  same  douot  and  micertaiiity  exi»i  i-ela- 
liv«  to  the  pronunciation  of  the  silent  and  other  letters.  Other  omissions  in  his  "  ANALY-SIS"  might  be  .shown,  which  greatly  increiuse 
the  defects  in  the  cUissification,  such  as  the  conip'!or's  omittiitg  the  recuions  for  the  peculiar  sounds  of  the  letters  in  certain  sitiatir-ns. 
?his  list  might  be  extended  iilmost  without  liniiuii.on,  by  a  cl.ass  of  words,  the  pr.inuncialion  of  which  can  not  be  determined,  eillier  by 
lis  "AM  A  LYSIS"  or  his  clussificVtion.  On  page  10  and  on  page  155,  Mr.  Ely  h;is  said,  ihalgA  in /wugA  has  the  sound  of/;  b.it  in  all 
'Vcbster's  dictionaries  it  L'  sounded  like  fc,  thus,  Ao/c  /  /  Ajaiii,  on  page  10,  Mr.  Ely  hns  stated  ih;it  "  ^-•'^  are  in-ite  in  euery  English 
vpi--!,  'inh  in  the  middle  anl  at  the  end  of  words,  except  in  the  following,"  cou7k.  d-r  H-w  \}—n  ->viM  \vo  sound  draught  i  On  pise 
111,  M/.  Kly  has  inserted  talHle  and  throstle,  in  which  t  is  silent  in  all  Webstcr'>       •  -      \'      K  ,  !ns  inserted  thistle,  on  page  143, 

ri  A-'i-.,:li  he  Arts  notetl  the  silence  of .',  but  fArost/e  is  not  thus  noted.    lsiliefii-~i  ,     /u/i/A  jug  and  tripWto.ig,  page 

)1 !  /    SIr.ill  we  sound  them  di.AAorjg  and  ln/(/ion?,  or  d/p;.^ong  and  J/-j>ffto;!g  .'      .       .;  i     \v!i"ro  in  ihe  spelling-book  in- 

[jrincJ  us  how  to  sound  them  !     On  page  10.  Mr.  Ely  has  stated  thai  "  j:  is  soiiiL-i;,..;,  p.,;..,  ;,  ,  : ,"  i-ii  i,  .,s  not  inforined   us  in 

vhat  situalion  x  should  ha-/e  this  souii  I  !     Is  p  silent  in  exempt  airl  exenftnion  jiagc  120,  or  tli.nl  m  I  •     '     Is  /  silc'tl   in  rhriil- 

na-i  and  Christendom  page  123,  or  shall  il  be  sounded  in  these  words  7  Thy  p  and  t  are  not  a,):m  -  .a  \  ,  .-..■liuj,  ajid  all  si:ni!ar 
von.U  in  Webster's  octavo  dictionary  :  On  page  U,  Mr.  Ely  says  "  The  digraph  rei,  in  words  i  I  ;  ;  I  .  ;ii:'!  in  accen't-d  sylla 
ties,  his  i!i';  souii  I  o!  n,  Iji-.j  :"  yet  on  page  141,  he  has  a  class  of  words  over  which  he  sws.  '•  !.,  ...  ili...:!^  anl  siuiilar  •.vjrds, 
(6t-'  >■'  ■  ''■  .  I  n  !'<re  r,  though  marked  with  its  first  or  lon|so-,ii)-l,  d'lujrtfff*  rt /;■(,*'/';  ^/-j;:  ;'ifi/ .  );<r/.  ar;  /  I"'-')/-/-- EXaC  p. 
i,Y  -vir,  pair,"  which,  agreeably  to  his  I  nleabove  iio'.ed  (sivi'ii  on  paje  II.)  i..-n  loits  !!  1    An  1,  ;\2.ii;i  on  piga 

79,  ^'.      i;         '  I   •      ■  I.  despair,  Uir.lare,  &.c.  aW  under  figure  I,  as  having  prc-ive/y  tlie  same  S'lund  !  !    Ou  p  ig;- i:?i,  M-.  K.'y 

has  (1  .;  ;  -  '  :•■■•-■  '■■  :  :  ^^  ''•■■•■'■>  Walker  and  good  speakers  in  this  coutiti-y  iin-i  in  Kusland  sn-ni  I  /  as  ti'u  Over  this  Icsi on  .Mr.  Ely  has 
toll  us  Ih.n  tliis  cl.iss  of  wi.rds  can  be  and  ire  soundw!  three  dillercnt  ways,  yei  he  has  n)t  inf.irm-c  I  u?  w'tir.'i  ''  iha  three  v/ays  to  pro- 
nounce these  ivords !  It  is  quiie  singular  that  .Mr.  Webs'er  has  noted  the"a.<yiraiion  of  a-  like  z':  v.-'ien  followcil  by  l->iig  «  aud  preceisti 
ty  Ilia  accent,  as  in  measure,  treasure,  etc.  :  but  has  not  noted  this  iispira'.„.n  <•(  I  like  tfli  in  'ka  same  siliaiion  !  and  il  is  j-.i»t  ;ts  agree- 
able to  analogy,  to  pronounce  measure,  nlea.sure,  mez-iir,  plez-ur,  insie.id  of  ine-/.!i-ure,  |jie/.h-ui-e.  as  it  is  to  proiiounce  nal-ire,  fuiir'.-, 
iialur,  f-i-tur,  iu?tei'jl  of  fu-tshure,  na-tshure  ;  for  they  (ilie  t  an-l  ,v)  are  boih  precrd-l  liy  the  accent  a;,.:  follo.vcd  by  u,  conieq-ie.uly 
Iwtli  subi?ct  to  as^uiration  trom  tlie  same  principle  of  analogy,  as  we  snuiiil  r,  .,-.  an'l  ^  like  «/»,  in  gr-acio-i?,  u-iision.  n.iilon  :  for  af- 
though  we  s-JUnd  «  an  1  t  like  sh  in  pension  and  nation,  when  followed  by  i  and  hikjiIht  vdwiI.  yet  when  s  is  lollowtd  by  «  wc-  40i;nd  il 
like  zh,  as  in  measure  ;  and  in  like  manner,  should  we  (from  the  same  auulogy.)  so-.inl  die  t  like  <  A,  when  loll -wed  by  long  «,  ss  in 
nature.  On  page  23,  ant,  chant;  &c.  a  tlat,  and  .--auie  page  r^ant,  rant,  &o.  same  li-rininaiion  a  short  !  Oi.  page  71,  tramplait.  a  tlat 
in  ihafiist  syllable,  and  i.-rtfiM-f,  same  piigcrtshon  in  (il-.-".  syllable!  Oji  |uge  Ti,  nmna^,  r'loaas.  surpass,  a  fl.>t,  and  same  page 
f  Ki)-a*s,  and  inorata,  name  tenniiiation  a  short  1  On  p.  o3,  unlooof  and  tti'.too  are  placed  nnde  ■  .igure  I,  long  o  I.  On  page  53.  tli'ider 
a  ti.-.t.  and  on  page  -St  gander,  page  61,  candor,  a  short,  and  a  is  follov.-ed  by  thi>  name  letiei-s  in  each  case  !  On  pag.;  r03,  n-iperatn.  a 
th.irt',  and  on  page  UK  exarpsrats,  a  flat !  On  page  103,  ascent,  accented  on  the.,'iA,-«  .«yllaljh,  and  on  page  146,  accented  on  the  Inst 
gyllalile  !     On  page  129,  rhetoric,  accented  on  the  second  .>iylhil)!e,  pa^i-  155,  acccnte-.l  on  \.he  first ! 

As  I  intend  to  point  out,  at  sune  future  lime,  the  contradictions  and  iiiconsislencies  in  the  pronunciation  r.nd  division  of  words  in  Mr. 
Webster's  .-".ictinnaries,  1  hive,  in  this  review,  liinit?d  my  remarks  principally  lo  the  contradictions  beiween  the  Elementary  spcUi-.r-book 
un;l  h'»  school  dictionary. ,  On  Jiage  41,  Ai/.v6rtnti/-y,  »  hiEainz,  lik.'»  z  in  school  dicii.m.-irv  !  On  p.-ige  41,  cff-rfd,  <i  short,  n  flat  .-idio 
tjinarv  1  On  page  47,  fault,  page  70,  almana-k.  page  S3,  default,  aisault,  piige  \01.  fault'/,  alter,  almost,  broad  a  short,  and  broad  a 
long  in  Weli.sler's  octavo  dictionary  !  On  page  53,  want  broad  a  short,  and  patre  107,  wanting  broad  a  long  !  page  73,  assure,  pa,fe 
8»,  censure,  pressure,  Jlsxu  re,w\thoM  nfliii;;  the  sound  of  «  as  sli,  l)iit  on  pase  154,  issue  aii-i  tis.iui>  the  sound  of  «A  is  noted  in  theso  two 
worf!.<  !  kc.  &c.  I'.c.  page  lOG.  i '.  :  .  ^  ,-  ,m- mily  pronounced,  i  long  in  WebslP.r's  school  diciionary  !  page  43,  anch'ny.  diver.se.  fare- 
well, page  100,  .stalactite  pa;-  :  '-.I- nags  115,  almost  p.  1C7.  whomsoever  p.  Iia, valise  u,  1,54,  ha-aiigue  p.  l56,  afflux  p.  &>, 
wrongly  accented!  On  p  11'  v  UT,  conlitmrlioii.;,  y.  [22.  trunnion,  r:iilinnj.  moffi/lior^,  relJ^.  ion,  re'>>'lli'->u!.  se-.]orkr 
p  95.  cetaceous  jj.  127,  v/i-niis  M  .11  :  ;vi,les!  There  .are  in  the  s;.plling  lessons  more  thiin  POUR  H  UN  DRRO  WORDS  whioK 
Mr.  Ely  his  dividfd  DIFPEiiKN  i  IA  u-«h,  Webster's  »chn(,l  dictioiiarv  1  Thus,  espouse  p  23,  tiaii.'it,  yonder  p.  55,  armory,  victory 
I.  42,  canter,  |..es«pr,  leslcr,  elder,  tnuler,  iiiler,  tenter  n.  43,  'K-ernel,  garner,  fardel  j..  41,  density,  niodesiy  ii.ountainons  p.  48.  uneasy, 
blan.hsh,  brandish,  furnish,  ek;nnish,  varnish  page  49,  ellipsis,  reluctant,  iinportanf,  transcendeiil.  induigeiii,  eflhigent..  etriulgimi,  il»- 
irineenl,  reKlringent,  emergent,  ileiergcni  page  !(i-2,  &c.  Ac.  ;  and  boatswain,  p.  74,  microscope  p.  99.  wrongly  pi -nouneetl,  f;c. 
Thf  length  nf  this  criticis-m  (not  the  waff  of  mnttcr,)  admoni-h'-s  rnr  ih.it  f  muKl  draw  to  a  close.  This  f  shall  do  wiih  the  singlo 
rc.n.nrk.lhathHvins  iKiinied  oj.t  fonie  ot  the  most  prominent  DEPICiUNClES,  l)EFEf;TS,  HLUNnRRS  ERROIiRS.  IlSfCON- 
SISTKN'CIES,  and  CONTUAuICTIONS  contained  i.i  Mr.  Wphster's  Eleincn':.iy  spellins-book.  comp.  e-l  by  Aaron  Ely,  ^h-dh  arc 
more  numerous  ihan  in  any  other  spelling-book,  (anrl  I  have  S'lXTY  difcrent  kiiiHo  in  my  poss<:.ssi on,)  1  leave  the  question,  to  U);-  peo- 
ple of  the  Unite<l  Slates  to  decide  whether  this  hook  shall  be  patronisod  and  iitrcxlucxl  into  the  schools  of  lhi»  conntry. 
ttj-  Please  COMPARE  the  WORDS,  pp.  9  &  10  of  Wcb-jier's  PA.VIPHLET,  with  the  following  SPECIMENS  in  dkniOGn/.PHy. 


SPEClMEi^ra 

or 

WEBSTERS  ORTHOGRAPHY. 


AW  lh«  words  marked  with  nn  arterisV,  were  evidently  ccpicd  from  Dilworlh's  SpcIlin!;-Book,  as  thoy  appeared  ih*  same  in  l>\w6rtrt  • 
Spclliuc-Korvli,  contrary  to  ALL  of  \Ve')ster'5  Dii^'.lonarie.i,  an  1  to  ihe  Dioiian  irit-s  of  Jo!»iison  .111 1  VValkw  ;  aud  Ihey  liave  been  thai 
conlradiclory  and  erroneously  Epellu<l  iu  VVebslcr's  old  Speiliiig-Uook  tor  more  Uiaii  foriy  years  !!1) 


UU  Spcliing  Hook 

.  Dic'ionnry  1^06. 

i  Dinionary  ltil7. 

dunrto  1828. 

1       Ocinro  li3l. 

OaoiUcimo  WSI. 

,AVw  Spell.  Book, 

Abatable 

Abaie.ilile 

AbamLle 

do. 

diV 

AlJRllis 

do. 

AbaiiLs  and  Abatis 

Ab?lis,  Abattis 

Abattis 

Abbey  or  Abby 

Abbey 

Abridgement 
do. 

do. 

ill). 

do» 

Abri.lgement 
Abtciuon 

Abrjiiement 
Alwciwion 

Al)ri<l?i.ient 

•lo. 

do. 
do. 

do. 
do. 

Absdwo» 

Acaiiaoious 

Acaiiaceons 

do. 

do. 

Accepter 

do. 

A<j(->).inr  or 
Acc-^pior 

do. 

Accepter 

AocouUr 

Acco'iter  or 

do. 

Acpoiiler 

.Accciilre,Accoute 

Accoiitcr 

Accooter 

.4c.:oMl.ring 
Acrvitered 

A.contring 
Acooitrcd 

Acco-itering 
Accn.iiereU 

Accotirermeiils 

do. 

Accoiuornieiits 

Ac'joiiii-emeiits 

AccomcrmcnU 

.   ,     ^ 

Ache 

Ache,  Ake 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Ache 

Akii.s: 

do. 

Achiiis'.  Aking 

do. 

Adiii.g 

Ac.'.ievmcut 

Ac'r^veineiit 

do. 

do.         " 

do. 

So. 

Arre 

A'k.ir.\vle:lgment 
A-^re.  Aktri- 

Ackiiowledgemeut 

Acknowledgment 

do. 
do. 

do! 

dc. 
Acre 

Arl'lil.If.. 

do. 

do! 

Add.ibl-,  Addible 

Addible 

Adniitlahle 

Admital.Je 

Admittable 

do. 

do. 

i 

A'lvenfiresoine 

do. 

do. 

do. 

A'!veMtMr»iii» 

Aery 

do. 

Aerie 

do. 

Assinun 

do. 

Ag?ro'ip.  Asgroop 

do. 

Aggro'ip 

Aglet,  Al^Ict 

A^let.  Aiglet, 
Aijiilct 

do. 

do. 

Aiddecamp 

do. 

Aidecamp 

Aiddecamp 

do. 

do. 

Aisle 

do. 

Ik 

Aisle,  Aile,  Ilo 

do. 

do.' 

do. 

A^sle,  Aiie 

Alebiniic 

Alchemic 

AVhirr-c 

AI<-!ifaiic,J 

do. 

Akbimical 
Ao'iimii-ally 

Alchemical 
Alcl.emically 

Al.himical 
A|._-I,i,nic»aiy 

A:c:;-'nii!t 

do. 

Alc'rovn 

AL-hemist 

Alchiniisl 

do. 

Alc!:aiiiibtic 

AI<-b;,Mis!ic 

Alc'ieinistic 

Alcbi.-nistic 

Alchiinislical 

Alchemistical 

AlchimijiicaJ 

do. 
Alcurau 

Alrhpr.y 

AW-lomv 

do. 

Alcbiniv 

Alcliemj' 

Alcliimy 

A.coiun 

K..r,,M    ■ 

do. 

Alkoran.  Koran 

do. 

do. 

Al'.-i/p 

Alledf:e 

do. 

do. 

do. 

AUr-.-aHIe 

Allc'iffeable 

Alle^eable 

Alledec.able 

Ai;..-t..i 

Aliedgcd 

do. 
Alie^en-ent 

dn. 
Alledeement 

do! 

do. 

Almiamo* 

Alnianac^c 

do. 

,in. 

Almanac 

Almanack 

Ainmnny 

do. 

Anitnonia, 
Annii'iny 

do. 

do. 

Anip'nii  heater 

do. 

do. 

Ampliiil-.ealre 
Anipliiiheuter 

Anipliitheatcr,  or 
Amphilheaire 

Anaftrophy 

Anactrnplie, 
AiiaKtrniihy 

do. 

AncmoDy 

do. 

Anpoifiip 

do. 

do. 

AncU* 

Ankle 

do. 

A>,emniy 
■lo. 

do. 

do. 

Aiiiiolo,  nmoUo 
Antpd'luvian 

dC; 

A  not  la 

[|o. 

do. 
do. 

do. 

Antcdc'uTian 

Ai.lislrnphy 

AntiBUophe. 

Aiiiistr-iphy 

A' r.,-.f.7i^.  Afiocopy 
Ai.^ih'iiP-rm, 

do. 

do. 

Anti-ooy 
Apopbibegra 

Apotl.em 

do. 
do. 

no. 

Ai)othcm, 

Apo'Jiegm 

A  ,.itl,P,„. 

Apothegm 

Ain;l,pp,a 

Apornjicy 

Afortnsy 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Apostrophe 

Apostrophy     J 

do. 

Apostrophe, 
Apostrophy 
du. 

do. 

do. 

Apo»iroph« 

Ar(ip|!atjve 

do 

do. 

do. 

Ap|«l<.Mt« 

Aijpof  t 

Appojite 

tin. 

do. 

Apposii 

Apin>*fc 

Ap;iosilly 

Ai'poKteiy 

do. 

do. 

App<sit!y 

""""""- 

Apposltciieas 

do. 

An-hchiinic 

do. 
Archchemic 

Aiposiincsa 

AnriehMW? 

do. 

\i(ri.M).ise, 

do. 

Arfitiebujo 

Hnrcpicbusa 

Haiqnebuse 

Arrar 

do. 

Arra-k 

ila 

do. 

A-ka.iPre 

do. 

^fkarjce 

do. 

du. 

Askanni 

do. 

Askant 

do. 

do. 

A?-i!Tner 

Aseigncr,  Assignor 

do. 

do. 

do. 

A's..iT..lly 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Asnredly 

A  "■!,■»,• 

do. 

do. 

do. 

A-'irer 

Af«.  -in? 

do. 

dn. 

do. 

AMinng 

A'no<-r"tcy 

do. 

Aniorrasy 

do. 

Autocracy 

ATOlrdnpob 

ATOnliiiio;* 

do. 

Avuird-ipoli 

do. 

do. 

Ax 

d'.i. 

.i(i. 

Axe,  Ax 

Ay  (res) 

do. 

Ay.  Ave 

do. 

da 

Rafta* 

Baffcla«,  Baftas, 

do. 

Bafias 

Bmlor 

Raller 

do. 

r.a.tas 
Rn-.'.pr.  Bailor 

do 

do. 

RallilT 

do. 

Bailif  (Cor.) 

Baihfl.  BaiUf 

Sailif 

Baiee 

Rai-e 

do. 

do. 

dx 

do. 

do. 

Bannerol.Bnnrfroll 

do. 

Randinl 

do. 

do. 

R;innor,  Jimnoc 
Barbecue 

do. 

Bannock 
Barl^.ne 

dn. 
do. 

do. 
do. 

Sarbaeac 

Bark 

Bust.'  (\n  m'.-nc) 

Bark 
Hn^e 
Bngevio.' 
Basiliek 

do. 
d... 

Bark,  Barqne 
di'. 

do. 
dc. 

do. 

do. 

7a«,  Bam 

dn. 

Uasarinl,  Baifriol 

3as«Tinl 

<i«viol,  BaMTM 

do. 

do. 

do. 

da 

SauOiak 

Basin,  B(»»OB 

<lo. 

B.rn 

io. 

do. 

d» 

48 


SPECIMENS  OF  WEBSTER'S  ORTHOGRAPHY. 


Old  SpeUiris  Book 

Dictionary  1S<)6. 

Dictiouary  1817. 

duarto  1S2S. 

Octavo  1831. 
do. 

DuodeHTTM  1831. 

^eu>Spdliio,\ 

BasiU 

Bastile 

do. 

Banonade 

Bastinads 

do. 

do. 

do. 

3alteau 

Baitoe 

do. 

Bateau 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Baldeax 

do. 

Battleax, 
Battleaxe 

do. 

Battleax 

Bawble 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Baubla 

BdelUura 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Bdeliuni 

Bdellium 

Bedaw-b 

do. 

Bedaub 

do. 

do. 

Bedcloatha 

Bedclothes 

do. 

do.        . 

Bedsted 

do. 

Bedstead 

do. 

Bedstead,  Bedsted 

Behaviour 

Behavior 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Behoore 

BeliGove,  behove 

do. 

Behoove 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Bekooveful 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Behoovful 

Behvether 

do. 

Bellwetker 

do. 

do. 

Belleslettrea 

&o. 

do. 

do. 

Belleslctters 

Benumb 

Benimi 

.    do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Bergamot, 

do. 

Bergamot 

do. 

Bergam.ot, 

DurgMOoi 

Burgumot 

do. 

Burgamot 

Birth 

do. 

Berth 

do. 

Betel 

do. 

Betel,  Betle 

do. 

do'. 

Bezil 

Bezel 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Bibiicious 

Bibaceous 

Bibacious 

do. 

do. 

Bjce 

do. 

Bice,  Bise 

do. 

do. 

Bifid 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Bifed 

Bilingsgate 

de. 

do. 

do. 

Billingsate 

Bipartible 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Bipartable 

Blackinoore, 

Blackamoor 

Blachmoor 

Blackamoor, 

Blackmoor 

Blackamoor 

Blackmoor 

Elamable 

Blameafele 

Blamable 

do. 

do. 

Blameablcness 

Blamablenew 

do. 

do. 

Blaraeably 

Blamably 

do. 

do. 

Blazon 

do. 

do 

do. 

do. 

Blaieii 

Blessed,  Rle»t 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Blessed 

Blest 

Bloomary 

do. 

Blomary 

do. 

do. 

Bile  (tumor) 

Boil 

*lo. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Eonlf 

Boll 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Boult 

Bombasine 

do. 

Bombastn 

do. 

do. 

de. 

Eoosc 

do. 

do. 

Boose,  Bouse, 
Booze 

do. 

Boose 

do. 

Boosy 

do. 

Eoesy,  Bousy 

do. 

Boosy 

toxan 

Borne 

do. 

Borne,  Bourn 

do. 

Borne,  Bourne 

Borne 

Burgeoia 

do. 

Bourgeois, 
Burceois 

do. 

Bourgeois 

Braslcr 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Brazier 

Brasihvood 

do. 

Brazilwood 

do. 

do. 

Breadth 

Breadth,  brcdtli 

do. 

BrcaVlh 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Bri«r,  Briar 

do. 

do. 

Brier 

do. 

do. 

Brier,  Briar 

Sridegroora 
Brin.tul 

do 

Bridegoom 
Brim^il 

Bridegroom 

Bridegoom 
BrimfuU 

Brimfall 

do. 

Bronze 

do. 

Bronz,  Bronze 

do. 

Bronze 

Crniielte 

Brunett 

Brunc't,  Brunette 

Brunette,  Brunet 

Brunei,  Brunette 

Brunette 

Bnccaiiier 

Buccaneer 

Bucanneer 

Bucaneer, 
Bucanier 

do. 

Bucaneer 

da 

Build 

do. 

do. 

Build,  Bild 

do. 

do. 

Builder 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Builder,  Bilder 

Building 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Building,  BUding 
Built,  bill 

Built 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

BuUt 

Bur 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Burr 

Burthen 

Burden 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Burthen,  Burdet 

Burdoc 

do. 

Burdock 
Burgl),  Burg 

do. 

do. 

Ruigh 

do. 

do. 

Burg 

B  urine 

do. 

Burin 

do. 

do. 

Burlewjiie 

do. 

do. 

Burlesqne,  Burlesit 

do. 

do. 

Cacoon 

do. 

Caccoon 

autiff 

do. 

Caitit  (cor.) 
do. 

Caitiff,  Caitif 

Caitif 

Jalimanco* 

Calamanco 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Calari.in 

Calamine.Calamin 

do. 

Calamine 

do. 

Calcareous 

do. 

Calcarious 

do. 

^.    .  ^°- 

Calico 

do. 

do. 

Calice 

do. 

Chalice 

Calico 

'Jalliro 

Calico 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Calipli 

do. 

Calif 

do. 

^^^.Z^'' 

Caliphate 

do. 

Calilate.Calipliate, 

do. 

Kalifale 

CRmellepR'"d 

Camelopard 

do. 

grar"''- 

do. 

Camlet 

do. 

do. 

do. 

'■ 

-,      do. 

Camphor 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Ca^'""" 

do. 

do. 

Canaille 

oanail 

Cancellated 

do. 

Cancclaicd 

do. 

do. 

"ancellatioa 

do. 

Cancelation 

do. 

do. 

Cuucelled 

do. 

Canceled 

do. 

do. 

Connonitr 

do. 

Capillair 
Carbiniw^ 

do. 

Cannoneer, 
Cannonier 
Capiilaire 

do. 
do. 

Cannonier 

do. 

Carbinier 

do. 

Carabineer 

do. 

Carbinier 

do. 

carubinier 

Carcase 

Carcass 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Carmiii 

da 

Carmine 

do. 

Carmin,  Carmine 

Carnelian 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Cornelian 

Caik 

Cask,  casque 

do. 

Cask 

do. 

do. 

Casque 

Catastrophe 

Cataslrophy 

do. 

Catasti-ophe, 
Catastrophy 

do. 

do. 

CaU«roph« 

C;.itcal 

do. 

Catcall 

do. 

do. 

Catsup 

do. 

Catchup,  Catsup 

do 

do. 

Caviller 

do. 

Caviler 

do 

do. 

Cazique,  cazic 

do. 

Cazic,  Cazique 

do- 

Cazeke,  Caijque 

Canter 

do. 

do. 
Centered 
Centering 

Centre,  Center 

Centred 

Centring 

Cenbr 

Cci.le-ed 

Centering 

do, 

Cesarian 

Cesarean 

do. 

Cesarian 

Chagrined 

ilo. 

du 

do. 

Chagrinned 

Chali>e'*t8 

Chalyicale 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

da 

ChumUion 

C'li-iuieleon 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Chamelion 

da 

Champaign  (wine) 

do. 

do. 

Champagne, 

Champane 

Champaign, 

do. 

do. 

ChampaiRii 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Champaign 

(coaauy) 

Ch^mpam 
Channeled 

Channelled 

do. 

da 

Chace* 

Cliase 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do 

Chemical 

do. 

Chimical 

Chemical 

CbimicaJ 

Chemically 

do. 

Chiroieally 

Chemically 

Chcinu4 

d«. 

-0. 

Cbimist 

Cb«mU« 

CUlBlX 

to 

4357 


I 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  LOS  ANGELES 

THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below 


SAW  4     ^9&^ 


MAY 


7     1350 


'gBli 


X%^ 


RECD 


,iAY     3  1961 

Iay6  tali 


t-r.  a"^3Sf 


JUN  1  o  1966 

BiJCD  URb 

'^AUT4    191 

«£C'0  LD-Uiffl 


DEC-  9 


ML 


DEC  U  1951 


7iaiAJialllll21ii^ 


:(H-2,M3(5205) 


jULl8t97/i 


:f.     DEO  18  1972. 

gp7D  nj-ufii 


1ft 


tflTY  OP  C '  '  '  '''RNIA 

AT 
LOS  ANGELES 


University  Of  Californi 

mill 


a,  Los  Angeles 


«|firiT|H|ll!||l| 
L  007  626  242  7 

iiiiif 

AA    000  354  012    i 


W' 


.^    ~\: 


